M. Pourghadiri et al., A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR THE CONTROLLED REMOVAL OF MOTTLED ENAMEL - MEASUREMENT OF ENAMEL LOSS, British Dental Journal, 184(5), 1998, pp. 239-241
Aim To describe and investigate a simple, effective new method for con
trolled removal of unsightly, malformed surface enamel. Subjects and m
ethods 22 mottled incisor teeth were chosen from a group of 12 patient
s, aged 9-15 years. One half of the labial surface of the tooth was co
vered with a layer of unfilled bis-GMA resin so that it remained unaff
ected by the procedure. The other half was treated by etching the enam
el with 35% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds, washing and drying. The fr
osted, etched enamel was removed with a composite finishing bur (Jet 7
901) running dry in an air turbine, until a shiny enamel surface reapp
eared. The enamel was then smoothed with a pumice and water slurry in
a slow-rotating rubber prophylaxis cup. The bis-GMA resin was peeled o
ff, and an elastomeric impression of the tooth (now with one half of i
ts labial surface treated, and the other untreated) was taken. The tre
atment of the remainder of the labial aspect was then completed. The t
hickness of the mid-labial enamel removed was measured directly from t
he impression by surface imaging, using a confocal microscope. Results
The mean thickness of enamel removed was 164 mu m (SD +/- 85 mu m). C
onclusions This technique results in equivalent amounts of enamel remo
val to that claimed for other more complex and time-consuming methods.