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White Spots: Prevention in Orthodontics—Systematic Review of the Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Assunta Patano

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work as first authors.)

  • Giuseppina Malcangi

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work as first authors.)

  • Roberta Sardano

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Antonio Mastrodonato

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Grazia Garofoli

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Antonio Mancini

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Alessio Danilo Inchingolo

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Daniela Di Venere

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Francesco Inchingolo

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy)

  • Gianna Dipalma

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work as last authors.)

  • Angelo Michele Inchingolo

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work as last authors.)

Abstract

Early-stage dental demineralization, called white spots (WS), get their name from the characteristic colour that enamel takes on due to the acid attack of salivary cariogenic bacteria. They are often associated with fixed orthodontic therapy (FOT) and, if left untreated, evolve into caries with repercussions on oral health and dental aesthetics. This review aims to identify the most effective prophylaxis strategies to prevent WS during FOT. The search for the reviewed studies was conducted on the Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, selecting English-only articles published in the 5 years from January 2018 to January 2023. The keywords used were “WS” and “fixed orthodontic*”, using “AND” as the Boolean operator. A total of 16 studies were included for qualitative analysis. Prevention begins with maintaining proper oral hygiene; fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwashes, gels, varnishes, and sealants can be added to prophylaxis and used regularly. Using a laser in combination with fluoride helps prevent the occurrence of WS and assists in the repair processes of initial lesions. Further studies are needed to establish international guidelines for preventing WS in orthodontically treated patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Assunta Patano & Giuseppina Malcangi & Roberta Sardano & Antonio Mastrodonato & Grazia Garofoli & Antonio Mancini & Alessio Danilo Inchingolo & Daniela Di Venere & Francesco Inchingolo & Gianna Dipalm, 2023. "White Spots: Prevention in Orthodontics—Systematic Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:8:p:5608-:d:1129596
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alessio Danilo Inchingolo & Assunta Patano & Giovanni Coloccia & Sabino Ceci & Angelo Michele Inchingolo & Grazia Marinelli & Giuseppina Malcangi & Valentina Montenegro & Claudia Laudadio & Chiara Di , 2022. "The Efficacy of a New AMCOP ® Elastodontic Protocol for Orthodontic Interceptive Treatment: A Case Series and Literature Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-33, January.
    2. Hsin-Chung Cheng & Hao-Ting Hu & Ya-Chu Chang, 2019. "Effectiveness of Enzyme Dentifrices on Oral Health in Orthodontic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-10, June.
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