Evaluation of 3 commercially available materials for resolution of white spot lesions

Abstract

White spot lesions are often seen on the teeth after orthodontic treatment, resulting in unpleasant esthetics. The aim of this in-vitro study was to compare subjectively and objectively the esthetic outcomes of white spot lesions treated with 3 commercially available products that have been reported to have a positive effect on the remineralization of enamel. Forty extracted premolars were randomly allocated into 1 of 4 groups (n = 10). The teeth were exposed to a demineralization solution at 37°C for 14 days to produce white spot lesions that were about 100 μm deep. Each group was then randomly assigned to receive either control treatment with artificial saliva or treatment with 1 of the 3 commercially available products: Restore toothpaste (Dr. Collins Inc, Orange County, Calif), which contains NovaMin (Dr. Collins Inc); Prevident 5000 (Colgate, New York, NY); and MI Paste Plus (GC America, Alsip, Ill). All groups were evaluated 5 times at 6 time points during the study. The subjective and objective results were mixed within groups and between groups for the products tested. We found no conclusive evidence that any of these 3 materials produced more favorable esthetic white spot lesion remineralization results.