Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the color changes and the stability at a 1-year follow-up of white spot lesions (WSLs) treated with an infiltrating technique by using etching and TEGDMA resin. The color of 22 white spot lesions and the sound adjacent enamel (SAE) were assessed with a spectrophotometer at T0 (baseline), T1 (after treatment), and T2 (1 year after). The color change ΔE (WSLs-SAE) at T0 vs. T1 were compared to evaluate the camouflage effect efficiency, and at T1 vs. T2 to assess the stability of outcomes. To evaluate the effect on the treatment outcome of gender, the presence or not of previous orthodontic treatment, WSLs onset more/less than 10 years, the age of the patient, and the ΔE WSL (T0 vs. T1) was analyzed. The difference between ΔE (WSLs-SAE) at T0 and T1 resulted in statistical significance (p < 0.01). No statistical difference was found between ΔE (WSLs-SAE) at T1 vs. T2. The variables considered showed no statistical differences in treatment outcomes. The results of our investigation show that the technique used is immediately effective and the camouflage effect keeps up and steady one year after treatment. Such results do not appear to be influenced by analyzed clinical variables.
Highlights
Enamel translucency is a characteristic related to the enamel refractive index (RI = 1.62) and inter-crystalline space composition [1]
The enamel white lesion could be distinguished in fluorosis, opacities, or white spot lesions (WSLs) [4] that, in particular, have been described as hypomineralization, usually limited to anterior teeth [5], and could be caused from demineralization of enamel subsurface that might evolve into a carious lesion
sound adjacent enamel (SAE) at three observation times are described in Table 2 and Figure 1
Summary
Demineralization alters the physiological enamel reflectivity, and the difference in RI between the healthy enamel and the demineralized area generates a milky white opaque appearance, clearly distinguished from the sound adjacent enamel (SAE) [2,3]. The enamel white lesion could be distinguished in fluorosis, opacities, or white spot lesions (WSLs) [4] that, in particular, have been described as hypomineralization, usually limited to anterior teeth [5], and could be caused from demineralization of enamel subsurface that might evolve into a carious lesion. A white spot lesion can be considered as part of the caries disease process, due to plaque accumulation, and influenced by other factors, such as diet, fluoride exposure, saliva properties, as well as genetic factors [5]. Some authors show how remineralization is possible in the initial phase
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