Comparison of enamel microabrasion techniques: Prema Compound versus a 12-fluted finishing bur

This clinical study was done to compare the effectiveness of microabrasion with Prema Compound versus a high speed 12-fluted bur with water spray in removing incisor hypomineralized defects. Twenty-one patients had two incisors with enamel surface defects. It was randomly decided to use Prema Compound on one of the incisors and a 12-fluted bur on the contralateral incisor. One operator did all the procedures, but the tooth's color changes were rated by three observers who rated color photographs pre- and postoperatively, and one of the three rated each patient's teeth in person. The data revealed that there was no significant difference between Prema Compound and the 12-fluted bur in removing incisor hypomineralized defects. Both microabrasion techniques significantly improved the tooth's color, but the Prema method took over 9 minutes longer. The 12-fluted bur caused no clinically identifiable marks on the enamel surface. Both techniques were very reliable in removing the brown hypomineralized enamel defects, but were far less reliable in removing the white mineralization defects. The 12-fluted bur appeared to be an easier and equally effective alternative to Prema Compound for mineralization defects in incisors.