Evaluation of different methods for monitoring incipient carious lesions in smooth surfaces under fluoride varnish therapy.

Background: There are only a few studies relating visual inspection methods and laser fluorescence when monitoring regression of incipient carious lesions.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to monitor incipient carious lesions in smooth surfaces under varnish fluoride therapy using visual inspection methods and laser fluorescence (LF).

Design: Active white spot lesions (n = 111) in upper front teeth of 36 children were selected. The children were subjected to four or eight applications of fluoride varnish in weekly intervals. The visual systems were activity (A) and maximum dimension in millimetres (D). They were applied together with LF readings (L) in the beginning of the study (W1), in the 5th week (W5), and in the 9th (W9) week.

Results: The mean (SD) of L values in W5 and W9 were 5.6 (3.8) and 4.5 (3.3), respectively; both were significantly different from the initial score of 7.4 (5.1) in W1. There was a positive correlation between D and L in W5 (r = 0.25) and W9 (r = 0.36; P < 0.05). The mean (SD) values of L were lower following the activity criteria.

Conclusions: Our findings support the finding that incipient carious lesions in smooth surfaces under fluoride therapy can be monitored by laser fluorescence and visual inspection methods.