Fluoride Varnish May Improve White Spot Lesions

Design: A randomised, parallel-group, controlled clinical trial.

Intervention: The test group had fluoride varnish applied onto the tooth surfaces with WSLs using a miniature cotton swab or brush and advised not to brush for four hours. The control group had saline solution applied.

Outcome Measure: Status of the WSLs were assessed using a DIAGNOdent pen (KaVo, Biberach, Germany).

Results: Of the 110 participants recruited, 14 dropped out between the debonding and the six-month recall visit. There were statistically significant differences between the mean DIAGNOdent readings of the two groups at the three-month (P<0.05) and at the six-month follow-up visits (P<0.01). No adverse response or safety concerns in the use of fluoride varnish were reported by any of the subjects.

Conclusions: A greater decrease in DIAGNOdent pen readings was found in the test group during the first six months after debonding. This may be taken to imply an improvement in the WSLs. Thus, topical fluoride varnish application appears to be a good method to treat WSLs and should be advocated as a routine measure after orthodontic treatment.