Masking-efficacy and caries arrestment after resin infiltration or fluoridation of initial caries lesions in adolescents during orthodontic treatment-A randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of this randomised, controlled, split-mouth trial was to assess the masking results in initial caries lesions (ICL) that were either resin infiltrated or fluoridated during treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances.Methods: Adolescent patients (age range:12-18years) with fixed orthodontic appliances who had developed ICL [ICDAS 1 or 2 (International Caries Detection and Assessment System)] during orthodontic treatment were consecutively recruited and randomly assigned to either resin infiltration with up to 3 etching procedures (Group:Inf) or to 3-monthly application of a fluoride varnish (Group:FV). Both interventions were performed according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Primary and secondary outcomes (Delta E, ICDAS, DIAGNOdent) included the evaluation of the appearance of the ICL before (T-0), 1 week after (T-1) treatment and at the last appointment before debonding (T-2).Results: Fifteen patients (8females, 7males) with 57ICL were included. Mean (SD) observation time at the last appointment before debonding was 0.5 (0.3) years. At T-0 FV and Inf did not differ significantly in Delta E (median Delta E-0,E-FV(25th/75th percentiles):11.6 (8.7/20.3): Delta E-0,E-Inf:15.1 (11.4/19.5); p(T0) = 0.135), ICDAS (p(T0) = 0.920) and DD (p(T0) = 0.367). At T-1 and T-2 Delta E values (p(T1)<0.001, p(T2)<0.001), ICDAS scores (p(T1)<0.001, p(T2)<0.001) and DIAGNOdent values (p(T1) = <0.001, p(T2) = <0.001) for Inf were significantly reduced whereas Delta E values (p(T1) = 0.382, p(T2) = 0.072) and ICDAS scores (p(T1) = 0.268, p(T2)<0.001) for FV remained unchanged.Conclusions: Resin infiltration effectively masked ICL during treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances both immediately after application and at the last appointment before debonding. Furthermore, the visual appearance of fluoridated lesions was not as satisfactory as that of the infiltrated ones at both T-1 and T-2.