Objective:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the enamel color changes before and after microabrasion technique, which is treatment of white spot lesion by using the CIE L*a*b* system with spectrophotometer.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty patients with inactive white spot lesions after fixed orthodontic treatment were selected. Especially, only small size white spot areas on central incisors, excluding middle of teeth were accepted. The contents of the microabrasion mixture was 18% hydrochloric acid and pumice (smaller than 30% of buccal area of tooth). The method was applied 4 times for each tooth. The spectrophotometric data on the labial surfaces of teeth were recorded with Easyshade (Vita, Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) at the center of incisors before and after microabrasion. In vivospectrophotometric color evaluation was adopted for all patients, and all measurements were performed in the same clinic room under standardized lighting conditions. Color on the surfaces of individual teeth was measured for L*, a*, b*, according to CIE L*a*b* color spaces. The data were analyzed by paired t test. Means were calculated at the 0.05 level of significance.

Results:

Significant differences were seen among L*, a*, b*, values before and after microabrasion (p<0.05). L* values were increased after microabrasion processing; a* and b* values were decreased after microabrasion processing. The mean ΔE value was 2.76. ΔE values showed that the color differences were at the acceptable level (ΔE<3.3).

Conclusion:

Microabrasion, which is an effective treatment approach for the cosmetic improvement of long-standing postorthodontic demineralized enamel lesion, constituted clinically acceptable color change on teeth.

Keywords: CIE L*a*b*, Enamel, Microabrasion