Clinical performance of a combined approach for the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth: Three-year results

Abstract

Objective: The long‑term clinical performance of combined therapy including enamel microabrasion and vital bleaching is debatable due to the abrasion of outer enamel surface. The aim of this longitudinal cohort study was to evaluate the 3‑year clinical performance of enamel microabrasion in combination with vital tooth bleaching for the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth.

Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with 176 fluorosed incisors and canines were included in this study. All the teeth were treated with enamel microabrasion (Opalustre, Ultradent), and at‑home bleaching technique (10% Opalescence PF, Ultradent). Fluorosed teeth were evaluated at baseline, after microabrasion, after combined therapy, and at 3‑year follow‑up in terms of esthetic criteria (esthetic appearance, brown stains, and opaque white areas), side effects, and patient satisfaction using visual analog scales. The data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05).

Results: Fluorosed teeth revealed significantly better esthetic appearance after microabrasion and combined therapy and at 3‑year follow‑up compared to those at baseline (P < 0.05). There was a significant relapse in the esthetic appearance and brown stains at 3‑year follow‑up (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The combined therapy was effective in the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth. However, a significant relapse was observed in the esthetic appearance and brown stains of these patients after 3 years, which also reduced patient satisfaction.

Keywords: Clinical trial, dental fluorosis, enamel microabrasion, relapse in bleaching, vital bleaching