Incidence of White Spot Lesions Around Ceramic Brackets Compared With Metal Brackets

Objectives : The main objective of this study was to investigate the relation between ceramic brackets and the development of WSL compared to that associated with conventional metal brackets.

Study design: Randomized 2-parallel arm clinical trial. Materials and methods: Quantitative light induced fluorescence (QLF) images were taken for the two randomly allocated groups (Ceramic group, n=26; Metal group, n=25) of patients at T0: before the start of treatment; T1: after 2 months and T2: at 4 months after treatment). The QLF images were analyzed; Primary outcome measures: The lesion area (Pixels) and Mean amount of fluorescence loss (∆F)% and the number of newly developed lesions. Secondary outcome: Maximum fluorescence loss (∆F-Max)% and plaque surface area (∆R 30)%. Means and standard deviations for all the measured parameters at T0, T1 and T2 were calculated. Split plot analysis of variance (SPANOVA) test was used to determine the changes within each group at the different time intervals, and between the two groups. Chi square was used to compare between the two groups regarding the number of new lesions during the treatment. P value was set at 0.05 level.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy subjects seeking orthodontic treatment with mild-to-moderate crowding (not exceeding 5 mm)
• No previous orthodontic treatment
• Optimum oral hygiene
• Maximum of 3 restored teeth
• Absence of defective enamel formation in the form of hypocalcification or hypoplasia.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with poor oral hygiene
• Defective enamel
• Patients with syndromes and Oro-facial anomalies or salivary glands diseases