Objective: The aim of this study was to clinically assess the effectiveness of masking white spot enamel lesions using a resin infiltration technique that was recently developed to arrest incipient caries in a micro-invasive concept.
Methods: Twenty teeth with a Developmental Defect of Enamel (DDE) and 18 teeth with Post-orthodontic Decalcification (POD) were selected and treated with resin infiltration. Standardized photographs were taken before, immediately after, and 1 week after treatment and were analysed using image analysing software to calculate the ΔE values. The results were classified into three groups: completely masked, partially masked, and unchanged.
Results: Among the 20 teeth with DDE, five teeth (25%) were classified as completely masked, whereas seven (35%) and eight teeth (40%) were partially masked and unchanged, respectively. Among the 18 teeth with POD, 11 teeth (61%) were completely masked, six teeth (33%) were partially masked, and one tooth (6%) was unchanged. In some teeth, the result was more improved after 1 week than immediately after infiltration.
Conclusion: The masking effect was dramatic in some cases but not in others. The long-term colour stability of the result should be followed up through continuous clinical and scientific studies.
© 2011 The Authors. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry © 2011 BSPD, IAPD and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.