Preventive effect of ozone on the development of white spot lesions during multibracket appliance therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To test the null hypotheses: (1) there is no difference in the caries protective effect of ozone and Cervitec/Fluor Protector during multibracket (MB) appliance therapy, and (2) DIAGNOdent and quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) are not superior to a visual evaluation of initial caries lesions.


METHODS
Twenty right-handed patients with a very poor oral hygiene who required full MB appliance therapy were analyzed during 26 months. In a split-mouth-design, the four quadrants of each patient were either treated with ozone, a combination of Cervitec and Fluor Protector, or served as untreated controls. The visible plaque index (VPI) and white spot formation were analyzed clinically. DIAGNOdent and QLF were used for a quantitative assessment of white spot formation.


RESULTS
The average VPI in all four dental arch quadrants amounted to 55.6% and was independent of the preventive measure undertaken. In the quadrants treated with Cervitec/Fluor Protector, only 0.7% of the areas developed new, clinically visible white spots. This was significantly (P < .05) less than in the quadrants treated with ozone (3.2%). The lesions detected with QLF only partially corresponded to the clinically detected white spots, while DIAGNOdent proved to be unable to detect any changes at all.


CONCLUSIONS
The caries protective effect of Cervitec/Fluor Protector during MB therapy was superior to ozone, and a visual evaluation of initial caries lesions was superior to both DIAGNOdent and QLF.
Kronenberg
Otmar
O
Department of Orthodontics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. otmar.kronenberg@zmk.unibe.ch
Lussi
Adrian
A
Ruf
Sabine
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010126:Ozone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012821:Silanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013943:Thymol / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012821:Silanes; C079161:chlorhexidine, thymol drug combination; D013943:Thymol; C022599:Fluor Protector; D010126:Ozone; D002710:Chlorhexidine