Longitudinal development of caries lesions after orthodontic treatment evaluated by quantitative light-induced fluorescence.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this investigation was to use quantitative light-induced fluorescence to study the natural behavior of white-spot lesions that developed in orthodontic patients during treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances, after the removal of those appliances.


METHODS
The sample comprised 58 consecutively recruited patients who were at least 12 years old and who had been treated with a fixed appliance for at least 1 year in the department of orthodontics at the Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands. They were examined with quantitative light-induced fluorescence for the presence and the extent of caries on the buccal surfaces of their teeth directly after debonding and 6 weeks and 6 months later. The fluorescence loss (DeltaF [%]) and area of lesions (mm2) were determined for all lesions found.


RESULTS
A total of 421 carious lesions were recorded at debracketing with an average fluorescence loss (DeltaF(0)) of 10.3% (SD, 5.4%). During the study, 15 lesions were lost from quantitative light-induced fluorescence analysis: 11 lesions (DeltaF(MAX,0) >25%) in 2 subjects were restored, and 4 were not analyzed because they were not imaged properly. Lesions varied from incipient, ie, white spot (DeltaF(0) <10%, n = 257), to advanced, ie, dentinal (DeltaF(0) >25%, n = 12). A small lesion improvement was seen 6 weeks after debracketing (P <.01), and a further lesion improvement was seen after 6 months (P <.01). Incipient lesions on average showed a smaller improvement (relative decrease, 2%; SD, 20%) than lesions with DeltaF(0) >10% (relative decrease, 12%; SD, 20%; P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The lesions that developed during orthodontic treatment improved once the fixed appliances were removed even when they were advanced, but the overall regression was small.
van der Veen
Monique H
MH
Department of Cariology Endodontology Pedodontology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.vd.veen@acta.nl
Mattousch
Thomas
T
Boersma
Johan G
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012737:Sex Factors