In‑vitro quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of different techniques on the of incipient enamel demineralization

Aim and objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three different techniques on treating induced incipient enamel demineralized lesions using digital subtraction radiography (DSR). Materials and methods Fifteen human sound premolars were used in this study. White spot lesions (WSLs) were established on the buccal, palatal, or lingual surfaces of the samples. Samples were then randomly divided into three equal groups (n = 10). Samples in group A were treated with ACT anticavity fluoride mouthrinse, those of group B were treated with MI paste Plus cream, while those of group C were treated with ICON resin infiltrant. All groups were exposed to a pH cycling, for 30 days excluding weekends where samples were stored in distilled water, during which the treatment regimen was applied. All groups were then exposed to a secondary demineralization attack. Standardized periapical radiographs were taken at four times interval; before any treatment which is considered as the baseline, after WSL creation, after material application, and lastly, after the second demineralization attack. DSR was used for the assessment of WSLs progression. Results Statistical analysis was conducted using one‑way analysis of variance, Tukey’s and paired t‑tests (P 0.05). Comparing the three methods of treatment; DSR evaluation showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the three groups, where group B had the best effect on decreasing the WSLs. Also, a significant difference was found among the three groups after the secondary demineralization attack, where group A was found to be the most resistant group. Conclusion ACT mouthrinse, MI paste Plus, and ICON resin infiltrant are effective materials in treating the incipient lesions and in resisting caries recurrence.