Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
03:37
Evaluating the Effects of Different Polishing Methods on Color Stability of Dental Restorations in Pediatric Dentistry
Published on: June 6, 2025
618
Enamel demineralization after different methods of interproximal polishing
Andreas F Hellak1, Esther M Riepe2, Andreas Seubert3
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany. hellak@med.uni-marburg.de.
Clinical Oral Investigations
|February 19, 2015
Summary
Interproximal polishing (IPP) of human enamel increases demineralization, with no significant difference observed after subsequent polishing. Enamel composition, not surface texture, appears to influence demineralization rates.
Area of Science:
- Dental materials science
- Biomaterials engineering
- Oral health research
Background:
- Interproximal polishing (IPP) is used to refine enamel surfaces.
- The impact of IPP on enamel demineralization requires further investigation.
- Understanding demineralization rates is crucial for preventing dental caries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the demineralization rate of human enamel following interproximal polishing (IPP).
- To determine if IPP method or surface characteristics correlate with enamel demineralization.
- To assess the effect of post-IPP polishing on demineralization.
Main Methods:
- In vitro testing of five commercial IPP systems on human teeth.
- Exposed teeth to a pH-cycling model simulating demineralization and remineralization.
- Quantified substance loss using optical emission spectrometry (OES).
Main Results:
- IPP significantly increased enamel demineralization across all tested systems.
- The Sheridan's Air-Rotor Stripping® system (ARS) showed the highest demineralization.
- Subsequent polishing did not significantly alter the demineralization rates.
Conclusions:
- Enamel demineralization increases when the outermost layer is reduced by IPP.
- Surface morphology and IPP system type had no detectable correlation with demineralization susceptibility.
- Individual enamel composition and the outermost fluorapatite layer may be more influential than surface texture in post-IPP demineralization.
