Objective: To compare in vivo the efficacy of enamel microabrasion alone or in combination with vital tooth bleaching for the management of tooth discoloration caused by fluorosis.
Methods: A total of 118 maxillary and mandibular fluorosed incisors and canines in 10 patients, scored from 1 to 7 according to the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis, were included in this study. All of the teeth were initially treated with enamel microabrasion (Opalustre, Ultradent Products Inc, South Jordan, UT, USA), and after 24 hours, an in-office bleaching technique (Opalescence Boost, Ultradent) was utilized (n=118). Standardized images of the teeth were taken using a digital camera prior to treatment and 24 hours after the enamel microabrasion and after the in-office bleaching therapy. The study groups were assigned according to evaluation time: a) after enamel microabrasion (Group 1) and b) after the combined approach (enamel microabrasion and in-office bleaching) (Group 2). Two calibrated and blinded examiners scored Group 1 and Group 2 images by comparing each with baseline images for "improvement in appearance," "changes in brown stains," and "changes in white opaque areas" using the visual analogue scales (VAS) that range from 1 to 7. "Patient satisfaction," "tooth sensitivity," and "gingival problems" were also recorded. The data were analyzed using two sample paired Wilcoxon signed-rank, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U-tests (α=0.05).
Results: The combined therapy revealed significantly higher scores than the enamel microabrasion procedure in terms of all of the evaluated criteria (p<0.001). Enamel microabrasion provoked less tooth sensitivity but led to lower patient satisfaction scores than the combined therapy (p<0.001); however, in terms of gingival problems, no differences were found between both groups.
Conclusion: The combined therapy, including enamel microabrasion and in-office bleaching, was more effective than enamel microabrasion alone in the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth.