Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal: European Journal of Orthodontics

Volume number: 46

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0141-5387

eISSN: 1460-2210

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/cjad070

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 
Objective: To investigate the extent to which post-orthodontic white spot lesions (WSLs) change in appearance over a period of >= 15 years and whether an association with caries data exists.Subjects and Methods: Seventy-two patients treated with a Herbst-Multibracket appliance at age 14.0 +/- 2.7 years for 20.1 +/- 5.1 months who attended a recall 18.3 +/- 2.9 years post-treatment. Post-treatment (T1) intraoral photographs were assessed by a panel of five dentists using a modified version of the WSL-Index by Gorelick. For affected incisors, photographs from before treatment (T0) and recall (T3) were evaluated. In addition, the WSL-Change Index by Pancherz and Muehlich was assessed for all adequately visible incisors considering T1, T2 (if available), and T3. Radiographic (T0, T1, and T2-if available) and clinical (T3) MFT data were used.Results: 37.5% of the patients exhibited WSLs on >= 1 incisor at T1; in total, 81 incisors (14.9%) were affected. At T3, 48% of the WSLs had improved. The modified WSL-Index decreased from 1.2 +/- 0.4 to 0.8 +/- 0.6 (P < .001), with a score 0 in 28% of the previously affected incisors. When comparing T2 vs. T3, additional improvement after T2 occurred in 11% of the teeth. While no difference existed at T0, the MFT values at T1, T2, and T3 were higher (P <= .05) in patients with WSLs at T1 than in those without.Limitations: The homogeneity of the subjects was limited and no patient-reported outcome was assessed.Conclusions: Long-term, post-orthodontic WSLs showed spontaneous full recovery in 28% and improvement in 48% of the teeth. Patients affected with WSLs exhibited higher post-treatment MFT values.

Harvard Citation style: Bock, N., von Bremen, J., Klaus, K., Schulz-Weidner, N., Ganss, C. and Ruf, S. (2024) White spot lesions after fixed appliance treatment-Can we expect spontaneous long-term (≥15 years) improvement?, European Journal of Orthodontics, 46(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/cjad070

APA Citation style: Bock, N., von Bremen, J., Klaus, K., Schulz-Weidner, N., Ganss, C., & Ruf, S. (2024). White spot lesions after fixed appliance treatment-Can we expect spontaneous long-term (≥15 years) improvement?. European Journal of Orthodontics. 46(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/cjad070