Evaluation of surface roughness of incipient carious lesion following resin infiltration and microabrasion - an in-vitro study

Context: In most recent years the treatment of dental caries has reformed from large invasive techniques to non-invasive or minimally invasive preventive techniques.
Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of resin infiltration and microabrasion on incipient carious lesions by surface roughness and resistance to further acid attack of treated lesions.
Materials and method: Fifty five artificially-induced incipient lesions were randomly divided into five groups (n 1/5 11): resin infiltration with an adhesive resin (Tetric N Bond Universal, IvoclarVivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), resin infiltration with a resin infiltrant (Icon, DMG, Hamburg, Germany), microabrasion without polishing (Opalustre, Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA), microabrasion with polishing (Opalustre, Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA), and distilled water (control group). All specimens were exposed to demineralization for another 48 hours. Surface roughness evaluation was done following initial demineralization, treatment and further demineralization. Data were analysed by One-way ANOVA, Continuous variables were described in terms of mean and standard deviation and for the multiple comparison, Tukey’s HSD test was used .
Statistical Analysis used: All the data were collected and analysed using SPSS version 23.0 . The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison of 5 groups (p value <0.05 is considered significant).Continuous variables were described in terms of mean and standard deviation. For the multiple comparison, Tukey’s HSD test was used (p value <0.05 is considered significant).
Results: Resin infiltration demonstrated lower roughness values than those of microabrasion, and the values did not reach the values of sound enamel. Further demineralization for 48 hours increased the roughness of infiltrated and microabraded enamel surfaces. Polishing did not influence the roughness of microabraded enamel surfaces.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the icon infiltration appeared to provide reduced roughness, although not equal to sound enamel. Further research is needed to elucidate their clinical relevance.