Esthetic improvement of white spot lesions and non-pitted fluorosis using resin infiltration technique: Series of four clinical cases

Abstract

White opacities have always been a major concern of esthetics for patients and can have varying etiology. In general, white discolorations of enamel might be due to dental fluorosis, early caries (white spot lesions), developmental defects etc. Conventional treatment options available for such opacities include non-invasive and invasive approaches. Recently, a new "micro-invasive" technique has been introduced as an alternative therapeutic approach that improves such opacities esthetically, in a single sitting, is painless and exhibits no complications. This case series illustrates the use of resin infiltration to treat fluorosis stains and WSLs, exhibiting significant improvement in esthetics.

Comparative evaluation of esthetic changes in nonpitted fluorosis stains when treated with resin infiltration, in‐office bleaching, and combination therapies

“…Likewise, one of research papers has detailed on ‘immediate esthetic changes in fluorosis’ and have shown that many a times patients do get ‘satisfied’ with immediate esthetic changes itself without requesting for any further treatment . Moreover, one of the main intervention strategy used in this study was RI, which has already demonstrated its efficacy for bringing immediate esthetic changes for carious opacities with stable results on long term basis too and using RI for fluorosis is adding a new indication for this novel technique . Hence, it was considered important to study the immediate esthetic changes initially.…”

“…29 Moreover, one of the main intervention strategy used in this study was RI, which has already demonstrated its efficacy for bringing immediate esthetic changes for carious opacities with stable results on long term basis too and using RI for fluorosis is adding a new indication for this novel technique. 17,30 Hence, it was considered important to study the immediate esthetic changes initially.…”

“…In addition to these, recently resin infiltration, a technique originally advocated for arresting early caries and for esthetic management of white opacities associated with early caries, have also been reported to treat fluorosis stains . The rationale for using RI in fluorosis stains is that, these lesions mimic white spot demineralization since they also involve subsurface hypomineralization under a relatively well‐mineralized surface which can be infiltrated …”

“…15 In addition to these, recently resin infiltration, a technique originally advocated for arresting early caries and for esthetic management of white opacities associated with early caries, have also been reported to treat fluorosis stains. [16][17][18] The rationale for using RI in fluorosis stains is that, these lesions mimic white spot demineralization since they also involve subsurface hypomineralization under a relatively wellmineralized surface which can be infiltrated. 16,19 All the published case reports published so far have reported 'good' to 'excellent' esthetics changes with RI in mild to moderate fluorosis stains, however to the best of our knowledge no randomized controlled trial has been conducted comparing the esthetic improvements as achieved by RI with bleaching, the most conventional procedure.…”

Infiltration of White-Spot-Lesions and developmental enamel defects

“…Beyond the aspect of WSL and early caries treatment, several other investigators also described an esthetical improvement and mechanical stabilization of fluorotic teeth, traumatic white spots or teeth suffering from molar incisior hypomineralisation (MIH) by infiltration, which increases its use as a therapeutic alternative for esthetic purposes in different types of porous lesions (51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56) . E.g., Kim et al (41) described the effects of infiltration on teeth with developmental enamel defect and post-orthodontic WSL.…”