1Resident, Unit of Orthodontics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh UT, India
2Ex-Professor and Head, Unit of Orthodontics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh UT, India
3Additional Professor, Unit of Orthodontics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh, UT, India
4Assistant Professor, Unit of Orthodontics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh UT, India
*Address for Correspondence: Dr. Ashok Kumar Jena, Assistant Professor, Department of Dental Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Sijua, Dumduma, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. E-mail: ashokkjena@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 6 October, 2015.
To evaluate the effect of comprehensive orthodontic treatment on frequency and severity of white spot lesions (WSLs).
Total 92 (M=43, F=49) subjects in the age range of 12–35 years seeking comprehensive orthodontic treatment were screened for the study. Among 92 subjects, 46 subjects (M=18, F=28) who fulfilled the selection criteria were included in the study. In 46 subjects, a total of 1026 teeth were examined for the evaluation of WSLs. The frequency and severity of WSLs were recorded on a standard proforma at the beginning (T0) and after completion of orthodontic treatment (T1) by direct visual assessment and by DIAGNOdent. The pre-treatment (T0) and post-treatment (T1) visual and DIAGNOdent scores were compared by using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. The P-value of 0.05 was considered as the level of significance.
The frequency of WSLs among subjects seeking comprehensive orthodontic treatment was increased significantly from the pre-treatment value of 65.2% to post-treatment value of 95.7% (P < 0.001). Of 1026 teeth examined, 107 (10.4%) teeth had white spot lesions at the beginning of orthodontic treatment and 272 (26.5%) teeth had white spot lesions at the end of orthodontic treatment (P<0.001). The mean DIAGNOdent score was comparable between the pre and posttreatment evaluation (P=0.282).
Treatment of malocclusion by comprehensive orthodontic treatment had a significant effect on the development and severity of white spot lesions.