WHITE SPOT LESIONS IN FIXED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT AND CURRENT PREVENTION METHODS – REVIEW

Demineralization is the most undesired side effects of fixed orthodontic treatment, especially associated with poor oral hygiene. orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances increases the risk for development of white spot lesions (wsl) due to the creation of additional retention sites on surfaces generally not susceptible to caries. appearance of these spots after the completion of orthodontic treatment can lead to poor esthetics, patient dissatisfaction and legal complication. this highlights the need for assessing the saliva, oral hygiene status and caries rate before beginning of treatment and initiating preventive measures. depending on the oral environment, wsl can develop into cavities, stay stable for a long time, or heal to a certain extent. thus, the prevention of wsl is crucial to prevent tooth decay as well as minimize tooth discoloration that could compromise the treatment results.