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Comparative Study of Microabrasion and Resin Infiltration on Enamel Color Stability and Surface Characteristics: A
Ibrahim M Shaban1, Mohamed J Jafer2, Aqeil A Nema2
1Department of General Dentistry, College of Medicine and Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Aim:
This systematic review aims to compare the effectiveness of microabrasion and resin infiltration on enamel color stability and surface characteristics in the treatment of white spot lesions.
Materials And Methods:
A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Scopus for studies published between 2009 and 2023. The inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials, and in vitro studies comparing resin infiltration and microabrasion on color stability (ΔE values) and surface roughness (Ra). The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0 and ROBINS-I tool assessed risk of bias in RCTs and non-randomized studies.
Results:
Out of 352 initial records, 11 studies, involving 236 participants and 1180 teeth, met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in detail. For clarity, the outcomes were stratified into short-term (<12 months) and long-term (≥12 months) results. Resin infiltration consistently proved superior color stability, with ΔE values ranging from 2.03 to 11.29 showing long-term aesthetic improvements lasting up to 24 months. Microabrasion displayed a variable ΔE ranging from 3.5 to 10.5 and color relapse within 6 months. Ra was lower in resin infiltration treatments with Ra values below 0.2 μm, compared to microabrasion, which showed roughness values ranging between 0.25 and 0.8 μm.
Conclusion:
Resin infiltration offers better long-term aesthetic outcomes in terms of color stability and surface smoothness compared to microabrasion, while microabrasion creates a rougher surface and a greater likelihood of color relapse, making it less ideal for long-term aesthetic improvements.
