Ibrahim Erhan Gelgor and Serap Titiz Yurdakal
Aim: In this study, it was aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively determine enamel loss after microabrasion treatment in white spot lesions of varying severity caused by orthodontic treatments. Material and Method: 60 caries-free human mandibular premolars, which were recently extracted before orthodontic treatments and preserved in 0.1% aqueous thymol solution, were used for this study. Three groups were generated based on the severity of decalcification using an artificial caries solution: mild, severe, and cavitated lesions. While the abrasion was applied to the distobuccal surfaces of all samples, the contralateral side served as a control. Each sample image was captured using a stereo microscope and camera, and the enamel loss and demineralization depth were measured comparatively. The change of surfaces in all groups was also examined with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results: The highest enamel wear after microabrasion was found in the cavitation group as 300.52±87.47 µm. There was no difference between the moderate and severe lesion groups on the experimental side; however, the cavitation group was statistically significant due to the higher enamel abrasion depth (p:0.0002). Conclusion: This study reveals that the microabrasion method is a safe and effective therapy option for mild to severe lesions.