Evaluation of Enamel Surfaces after Different Techniques of Interproximal Enamel Reduction

Abstract

According to the literature, interproximal enamel reduction (IER) has become a consolidated technique used in orthodontic treatments to gain space in particular situations such as dental crowding, non-extractive therapies, tooth-size discrepancies, and prevention of dental relapse. There are different methods to realize stripping, and enamel surfaces resulting after this procedure can be analyzed with SEM. The aim of this study was to analyze how different devices of IER leave the surface of the teeth. One hundred and sixty freshly extracted, intact human lower incisors were included in the study, fixed in a plaster support, and then processed with four different techniques of enamel reduction and finishing. Then, they were divided randomly into eight groups (A1–A2, B1–B2, C1–C2, D, and E), each containing twenty teeth. The A, B, and C groups were divided into two subgroups and then all the teeth were observed at SEM. Each digital image acquired by SEM showed that there were streaks on the surfaces, due to the cutter used. The results of this study showed that only group C2 (tungsten carbide bur followed by twelve steps of medium–fine–ultrafine 3M Soft Lex disks) has a few line, which is very similar to group E (untreated group), while the other groups have a lot of lines and show a rougher final surface.

Comparative Evaluation of Dental Enamel Microhardness Following Various Methods of Interproximal Reduction: A Vickers Hardness Tester Investigation

“…Unfortunately, studies that focus on evaluating the microhardness of enamel following therapeutic stripping procedures are relatively few. These studies tend to rely more on assessing the surface roughness of the enamel after interproximal reduction (IPR) and on evaluating the post-stripping caries risk [9,11,32,37,51].…”

“…Hence, this procedure serves as a viable substitute for extraction therapies, attributing its potential to notable decreases in the duration of treatment while preserving the transverse dimension of the dental arch and the anterior inclination of the lower incisors [6,7]. The principal indications for implementing the interproximal enamel reduction (IER) technique include the correction of tooth size discrepancies across the maxillary and mandibular arches as denoted by the Bolton Index, management of mild-to-moderate dental crowding, normalization of gingival contours, adjustment of the Spee curve, augmentation of post-orthodontic treatment stability to prevent relapse, and the recontouring of proximal contacts to eliminate interdental "black triangles" arising from gingival recession [8,9]. Additionally, IER proves beneficial in dental reshaping scenarios, such as in the esthetic modification of canines into lateral incisors in cases of congenitally absent lateral incisors following space closure.…”

“…The methodology behind this therapeutic intervention has undergone substantial refinement in recent years. Various techniques have been evaluated to establish an optimally effective, efficient, and suitable protocol to facilitate the stripping process in a manner that not only secures the necessary space for achieving therapeutic objectives but also ensures the attainment of impeccably smooth dental surfaces [9].…”

The Role of Interproximal Reduction (IPR) in Clear Aligner Therapy: A Critical Analysis of Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

“…There is considerable variation in the reported levels of enamel roughness after IPR with or without polishing [39]. Even after polishing, scratches may be visible on the teeth [40][41]. This is the reason Joseph et al recommend smoothing the surfaces using phosphoric acid gel [40], which should then be rinsed off with a water spray [16].…”