Resin Infiltration Effectively Masks Initial Caries Lesions After Orthodontic Treatment

A new study published in the Clinical Oral Investigation suggests that resin infiltration can effectively mask initial caries lesions after orthodontic treatment.

Study Overview

The present review systematically analyzed clinical studies investigating the efficacy of resin infiltration on post-orthodontic or non-post-orthodontic white spot lesions (WSL) or fluorosis.

Five electronic databases were screened:

• Central
• PubMed
• Ovid MEDLINE
• Ovid EMBASE
• LILACS

Article selection and data abstraction were done in duplicate. No language or time restrictions were applied. Outcomes were visual-tactile or DIAGNOdent measurements.

Results

Eleven studies with 1834 teeth being affected in 413 patients were included.

• Nine studies were randomized control trials.
• One was a prospective cohort study.
• One had an unclear study design.

Meta-analysis could be performed for:

• "Resin infiltration vs. untreated control"
• "Resin infiltration vs. fluoride varnish"
• "Resin infiltration without bleaching vs. resin infiltration with bleaching"

WSL being treated with resin infiltration showed a significantly higher optical improvement than WSL without any treatment and with fluoride varnish application.

In patients with fluorosis, bleaching prior to resin infiltration showed no difference in the masking effect compared to infiltration alone.

Resin infiltration has a significantly higher masking effect than natural remineralization or regular application of fluoride varnishes. However, although the evidence was graded as moderate, this conclusion is based on only very few well-conducted RCTs. Resin infiltration seems to be a viable option to esthetically mask enamel white spot lesions and fluorosis.

Reference

Bourouni S, Dritsas K, Kloukos D, Wierichs RJ. Efficacy of resin infiltration to mask post-orthodontic or non-post-orthodontic white spot lesions or fluorosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Aug;25(8):4711-4719. doi: 10.1007/s00784-021-03931-7. Epub 2021 Jun 9. PMID: 34106348; PMCID: PMC8342329.