Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF SAUDI ORTHODONTISTS AWARENESS OF WHITE SPOT LESIONS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT WITH DIFFERENT REMINERALIZING AGENTS

Fatimah Alkhars*, Amani Al Hassan, Nourah Alnassir, Fatimah Buhliqah, Fatimah Almomen, Alia Albduljabbar, Noor Alsaihati and Dr. Yassmine Tarek Ahmed

Abstract

Orthodontics treatment for the alignment of teeth is commonly done procedure especially in the young dental patients. Some treatments are completed in one to one and half years, while some take 2-3 years. The longer the duration of the treatment, the higher are the chances for demineralization of tooth structure especially around the brackets and the development of white spot lesions (WSL). WSLs are more prevalent in orthodontic patients than others (Øgaard B, 1989). About 50% of patients receiving orthodontic treatment develop one or more WSLs during treatment, compared with 11%–24% of untreated control participants (Gorelick ET AL, 1982). Therefore, it is extremely important that the oral hygiene is maintained throughout the course of fixed orthodontics treatment (Srivastava et al, 2013). Over the years, several materials and techniques have been used to prevent and treat demineralized lesions around brackets after orthodontic treatment. These include several interventions of fluoride and calcium along with other options. The concept of using casein phosphopeptideamorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) as a remineralizing agent was introduced in 1998 (Reynolds, 1998). CPP-ACP is used for remineralization of the enamel surface and reduction of decalcification. Various studies have taken place in order to determine the effect of CPPACP in the treatment of white spot lesions. A clinical trial revealed that the use of CPP-ACP material was useful in decreasing the activity of streptococcus mutans (Brochner et al, 2010). Another study was conducted in Turkey, which clinical trials with patients being exposed to CPP-ACP for 3 years. It was found out that there was a significant decline in the fluorescence scores among these patients (Karabekiroglu et al, 2016). Since orthodontists play an important role in preventing and treating WSLs which is one of the most common clinical complications in orthodontic patients and due to the rarity of research about orthodontists’ practice in preventing and treating WSLs, this study evaluates Saudi orthodontists’ practice toward WSLs in their patients and their knowledge of different remineralizing agents that can be used in their prevention and treatment.

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