Modern Strategies for WSL Prophylaxis and Treatment

While fixed orthodontic treatment has been providing the basis for non-compliant, routine orthodontic treatment of large parts of populations since decades, one of its downsides includes an increased incidence of enamel decalcification and cavitations. It is common knowledge that preventive measures are frequently associated with additional costs. The aim of this lecture is to also make clinicians aware of potential long-term follow-up costs that may result from ongoing treatment need of post-orthodontic cavitations and esthetically relevant white-spot lesions. Advantages and disadvantages of two strategies suitable to address this undesired side-effect are balanced: Lingual fixed treatment as an approach to reduce post-orthodontic decalcification and to minimize follow-up costs caused by long-term enamel damage treatment; and micro-invasive infiltration as a strategy to treat decalcifications during or following fixed orthodontic treatment.

Learning Objectives:

• Balance advantages and disadvantages of labial and lingual multi-bracket treatments in terms of enamel decalcification.
• Inform their patients about potential follow-up costs that may result from ongoing treatment need of post-orthodontic decalcifications.
• Balance advantages and disadvantages of micro-invasive infiltration during or following multi-bracket treatments.