Effect of fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization around brackets: an in-vivo study.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Even with advances in materials and techniques, demineralization around brackets during orthodontic treatment continues to be a problem. The purpose of this in-vivo study was to evaluate the effect of a fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization adjacent to bonded brackets. METHODS: Fifteen patients who needed at least 2 premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were selected. In each patient, 1 premolar was considered the test tooth, and the other was the control. Brackets were bonded, and T-loops were engaged on all premolars, but only the test teeth received fluoride varnish. The premolars were extracted after 85 to 95 days, and buccolingual sections 50 to 70 microm in thickness were evaluated with polarized light microscopy. The mean depth of demineralization in each lesion was measured 3 times on photographs by an operator blinded to the groups (intraclass correlation of the 3 measurements was 0.988). RESULTS: The mean lesion depths were 57.0 +/- 5.5 microm in the test group and 94.3 +/- 6.7 microm in the control group. There was significant reduction (approximately 40%) in depth of demineralization in the test group (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fluoride varnish can be beneficial as a preventive adjunct in reducing demineralization adjacent to brackets.