In-vitro evaluation of various treatments to prevent demineralization next to orthodontic brackets

Abstract

One common negative side effect of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances is the development of incipient caries lesions around brackets, particularly in patients with poor oral hygiene. Bio-available minerals from cement containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) might facilitate remineralization and inhibit lesion development. Our objective was to compare the potential of ACP-containing resin cement, fluoride varnish, resin sealer, and MI Paste (GC America, Alsip, Ill) under similar in-vitro conditions to prevent incipient caries lesions next to brackets on teeth. One hundred extracted premolars were randomly allocated to 5 groups (n = 20). Brackets were bonded with ACP cement (Aegis-Ortho, Bosworth, Skokie, Ill), resin (Transbond XT [3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif], control), or resin followed by application of fluoride varnish (Vanish, 3M, St Paul, Minn), resin sealer (Pro-seal, Reliance Orthodontic Products, Itasca, Ill), or casein phosphopeptide-ACP paste (MI Paste). All groups were cycled for 15 days in demineralization solution for 8 hours a day, rinsed, placed in artificial saliva (30 minutes), brushed, and stored overnight in artificial saliva. The extent of demineralization in each group was assessed by using quantitative light-induced fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Only the Pro-seal and Vanish groups showed significantly smaller lesions than the controls (Kruskal-Wallis test, P <0.05) for both quantitative light-induced fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy measurements. Fluorescence loss of Aegis-Ortho was similar to Vanish; Aegis-Ortho, MI Paste, and the controls were not different from each other. Both light-cured filled resin (Pro-seal) and fluoride varnish (Vanish) might prevent enamel demineralization next to orthodontic brackets exposed to cariogenic conditions, but the observed positive effects of Aegis-Ortho and MI Paste were not significant.