Assessment of White Spots with Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontics

The present study determined white spots with the help of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) in patients undergoing fixed orthodontics.

Sixty-four patients undergoing fixed orthodontics above 12 years underwent debonding, and the presence of carious lesion was assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks, 6 months, and 2 years. QLF images were taken with intraoral fluorescence camera. QLF images were examined visually for signs of demineralization, and scoring system was used.

It is found that there was fluorescence loss over a period of time. The median sum of fluorescence loss per patient was 55.6% and 29.2% and 101.4% at quartiles at baseline which changed to 51.2% and 26.5% at the first quartile and 101.4% at the second quartile. At 2 years, it was 43.7% and at the first quartile was 22.1% and at the second quartile was 99.1%. There was significant improvement at T2 (P < 0.05), however, between baseline and F1 and between F1 and F2, there was nonsignificant improvement (P > 0.05). The median value for total lesion area per patient was 3.6 mm² with quartiles 1.2 mm² and 8.2 mm² at baseline, 2.6 mm² with quartiles 0.7 mm² and 6.3 mm² at 6 weeks, 2.3 mm² with quartiles 0.7 mm² and 6.3 mm² at 6 months, and 1.8 mm² with quartiles 0.5 mm² and 5.8 mm² at 2 years which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

The authors found that white spots during fixed orthodontic treatment and after debonding is a common phenomenon. Although there was improvement in disappearance of these lesions, complete removal cannot be ensured.