Long-term evaluation of enamel colour change following orthodontic treatment: a randomised clinical trial

Abstract

To evaluate enamel colour change over a period of one year after the completion of fixed appliance treatment and to assess the influence of two different clean-up procedures and the resulting surface roughness.

Seventeen orthodontic patients were debonded and the residual resin removed using tungsten carbide burs followed by enamel polishing with Stainbuster burs or Sof-Lex discs in a split mouth design. A spectrophotometric colour evaluation was performed after clean-up (T0), polishing (T1), and one year later (T2). Colour parameters were measured and enamel colour change (ΔE) was calculated. Surface roughness was determined at T1 and T2 using epoxy replicas. Data were analysed using paired and unpaired t-tests and Pearson’s correlation.

Significant differences in colour change and surface roughness caused by the polishing techniques at T1 were observed. However, this difference was not evident at T2 (p < 0.05). Surface roughness and colour change showed no significant correlation.

Enamel colour changed significantly when evaluated at T2 (one year post-orthodontic treatment). Stainbuster burs resulted in brighter and smoother teeth immediately after orthodontic treatment. The colour and surface roughness were not significantly different after one year and had no significant correlation.