A longitudinal laser fluorescence study of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics Vol. 113; no. 6; pp. 595 - 602
• Main Authors: AI-Khateeb, Susan, Forsberg, Carl-Magnus, de Josselin de Jong, Elbert, Angmar-Månsson, Birgit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.06.1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Cariostatic Agents - administration & dosage; Cariostatic Agents - therapeutic use; Counseling; Dental Caries - diagnosis; Dental Caries - etiology; Dental Caries - pathology; Dental Caries - prevention & control; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Dental Enamel - pathology; Dentifrices - therapeutic use; Dentistry; Feeding Behavior; Fluorescence; Fluorides - administration & dosage; Fluorides - therapeutic use; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Lasers; Longitudinal Studies; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Oral Hygiene; Orthodontic Brackets - adverse effects; Patient Education as Topic; Risk Factors; Tooth Demineralization - diagnosis; Tooth Demineralization - etiology; Tooth Demineralization - pathology; Tooth Demineralization - prevention & control; Tooth Remineralization
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/S0889-5406(98)70218-5

Orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances increases the caries risk in young persons. The aim of this study was to apply a new caries diagnostic method, quantitative laser fluorescence, for longitudinal in vivo quantification of changes in incipient enamel lesions related to fixed orthodontic appliances. Seven young patients with active caries lesions disclosed at removal of the orthodontic brackets and bands were enrolled in the study. Caries preventive measures were intensified, including dietary advice, oral hygiene instructions, and the regular use of a fluoride dentifrice. The caries lesions were monitored with the quantitative laser fluorescence method after removal of the brackets and once a month thereafter. For each lesion, three quantities were measured: lesion area (mm 2), mean fluorescence loss (%) over the lesion, and maximum loss of fluorescence (%) in the lesion. During a 1-year follow-up period, the areas of the lesions decreased and the enamel fluorescence lost was partly regained indicating that a remineralization process had occurred. It was concluded that quantitative laser fluorescence seems suitable for in vivo monitoring of mineral changes in incipient enamel lesions, and useful for the evaluation of preventive measures in caries prone persons, such as orthodontic patients. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1998;113:595-602)