What’s new for the clinician – summaries of recently published papers (November 2023)

Abstract

Orthodontic treatments have enjoyed growing popularity in recent years, and the white chalky spots, also called white spot lesions (WSLs), that appear after treatment are a major aesthetic problem for patients and clinicians.1 The prevalence of these unsightly lesions varies from 3% to 97%1. In some cases, these demineralisation lesions may be reversible but often, in the case of orthodontic treatments, these lesions of the enamel evolve progressively and become irreversible, leading to carious processes.1 An increase in the amount of dental plaque containing cariogenic bacteria is the main etiological factor in decalcifying the enamel during orthodontic treatment. This demineralisation of the dental surfaces results in the appearance of WSLs or even caries.