Surface substance loss of subsurface bovine enamel lesions after different steps of the resinous infiltration technique: a 3D topography analysis

Surface substance loss of subsurface enamel lesions before (baseline/demineralization) and after each step of the infiltration technique was evaluated by means of a three-dimensional focus variation. Eighty enamel specimens were prepared and partially varnished (control). Non-varnished areas were demineralized (pH 4.95; 28 days), and etched with phosphoric acid gel (20%; 5 s). Specimens were randomly assigned to eight groups (n = 10), and were infiltrated using four resinous materials. In subgroups 1, polymerization and finishing with abrasive polishing strips followed. In subgroups 2, excess material was removed before polymerization (E1/E2-Excite, Vivadent; F1/F2-Fortify, Bisco; G1/G2-Glaze & Bond, DMG; I1/I2-Icon, DMG). Topometrical evaluation revealed a negligible substance loss of demineralized enamel. After etching, mean (±SD) differences of height decreased uniformly (-6.6 ± 2.0 μm; p = 0.089; ANOVA). For infiltrated lesions, DH of subgroups 1 was comparable to the etched lesions, with a significant increase (compared to etched lesions)in subgroups 2(1.1 ± 0.1 μm; p < 0.001; t test). Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that etching of initial subsurface lesions will result in significant surface substance loss; removal of excess material before light-curing should simplify the infiltration procedure, and this will avoid any abrasion resulting from polishing procedures.