WHITE SPOT LESIONS AFTER ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND QUANTITATIVE LIGHT-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE (QLF)

The fixed appliances used in orthodontic treatment cause the patient to hardly maintain oral hygiene procedures. this is the reason that demineralization is more common in orthodontic patients than normal population. white spot lesions are early caries lesions that indicate demineralization. white spot lesions are non cavitated areas of decalsification that occur as a result of the reduction in the mineral density by prolonged plaque accumulation on the affected surface and are limited to enamel but have a more porous surface than the sound enamel. white spot lesions are the first phase of caries formation and they can remineralize and have a normal or at least acceptable appereance after the orthodontic treatment. however, some of the lesions don’t remineralize and look aesthetically undesirable or can form cavities when left untreated. thus, it is important to diagnose white spot lesions early, prevent their development and choose the proper treatment. there are various methods for the diagnosis of white spot lesions. altough the visual method, examination with mirror-probe and radiographic method are the most widely known ones, there are current methods like direct digital radiography, electrical conductivity measurement, fiber optic transillumination, ultrasound, alternating current impedance spectroscopy, laser fluorescence, quantitative light induced fluorescence (qlf). this review gives information about white spot lesions, the effect of the orthodontic treatment in white spot formation, diagnostic methods and quantitative lightinduced fluorescence (qlf).