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In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. A split-tooth design using healthy third molars from 20 donors resulted in 20 prepared dentine cavities per experimental group. Rewetting with ethanol was followed by application of the respective primers. Previously, both the development and the introduction of the resin infiltration technique 1 , 2 , 3 have resulted in a noninvasive treatment regimen for proximal enamel caries aimed at closing the gap between preventive and restorative dentistry, thus obviating any sacrifice of dental tissues and improving oral health 4.
When the low-viscosity resin used in this treatment regimen has been applied to deproteinized enamel lesions 5 , major parts of the porous volume of these lesions may be occluded, thereby leading to the construction of a three-dimensional network 1 consisting of the infiltrant resin enwrapping the demineralized enamel remnants, rehardening and stabilizing the lesion 6 , and paralyzing any progress in the latter.
Meanwhile, several independent meta-analyses of acceptable quality 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 including an umbrella review 13 have consistently revealed that resin infiltration of enamel lesions will be effective at reducing any further clinical increase in white-spot lesions in both dentitions, as well as providing prompt and acceptable aesthetic outcomes 4. However, this refers to lesions restricted to enamel only, and it should be highlighted that lesions extending beyond the enamel—dentine junction have never been assessed with the initial developments 1 , 2.
Notably, some studies have revealed a poor outcome of the infiltration technique when used for treating proximal lesions extending into the outer third of the dentine, with the therapeutic efficacy of resin infiltration considered not to be significantly different from that of the controls Consequently, radiographically visible lesions extending to the outer dentine do constitute either a contraindication for the resin infiltration technique or a need for a modified treatment regimen.
