Effectiveness of fluoride and xylitol varnishes in treating post-orthodontic white spot lesions: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: White spot lesions (WSLs) are frequently encountered after orthodontic treatment. Natural remineralization is often limited, necessitating supplementary treatments.

Objectives: This study evaluated the remineralizing effects of 10% xylitol varnish, 5% fluoride varnish, and placebo on WSLs after orthodontic treatment.

Materials and methods: This single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial enrolled 84 patients (n = 28/group) aged 14‒25 years, who had developed WSLs after completing orthodontic treatment. The participants were randomly assigned to 5% fluoride varnish, 10% xylitol varnish, or placebo varnish groups. Randomization was performed using computer-generated block randomization. Participants, the clinician applying the varnishes and outcome assessors were all blinded to group allocation. Varnishes were applied every three months after debonding, and enamel mineralization was assessed using DIAGNOdent and visual scoring at baseline (T0), 6 months (T1), and 12 months (T2). Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis test, GEE modeling, and chi-squared test for WSL frequency (p < 0.05).

Results: Eighty-one participants were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and 76 in the per-protocol analyses. Significant improvements in mineral content were observed in all the groups after six (p = 0.007) and 12 months (p < 0.001). At T2, the fluoride group demonstrated a greater increase in enamel mineralization compared to the xylitol group (p= 0.045 in ITT, p = 0.063 in per-protocol). Visual assessment revealed significantly fewer WSLs in the fluoride group (12.1%) compared to the placebo group (25.1%) at T2 (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.24-0.69, p = 0.001). No significant difference in WSL reduction was noted between the xylitol and placebo groups.

Conclusions: Both fluoride and xylitol varnishes improved enamel mineralization, with fluoride showing superior long-term efficacy in reducing WSLs. These findings support using fluoride varnish after orthodontic treatment to prevent and manage WSLs.

Harms: No harm was observed during this study.

Trial registration: This trial was registered and approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials under the registration code IRCT20180913041032N2.

Funding: This study was funded by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.