Effects of a fluoride-releasing orthodontic cement on preventing the development of white spot lesions

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of "Embrace WetBond", a fluoride-releasing self-adhesive resin cement in preventing the development of white spot lesions (WSLs) during orthodontic treatment. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on the dental records of 140 patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances in a private orthodontic clinic in Tehran, Iran. Patients were divided into two equal groups based on the type of adhesive used for bonding orthodontic attachments: Group 1 (control), Transbond XT and Group 2,  Embrace wetBond. The prevalence and severity of WSLs were assessed in all teeth from the first molar to the first molar of both jaws using post-treatment photographs. The data were analyzed by chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test and a P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence and severity of WSLs were significantly lower in the Embrace WetBond group compared to the Transbond XT group (P=0.02 and P=0.003). The difference in WSL prevalence between the maxilla and mandible was insignificant within each group (P>0.05). The highest prevalence of WSLs was in maxillary lateral incisors (21.4%) and mandibular first molars (15.7%) in the Transbond XT group and maxillary lateral incisors (7.1%) in the WetBond group. The findings of this study suggest that Embrace WetBond adhesive may effectively reduce the risk of WSL development in patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. This fluoride-releasing self-adhesive resin cement can be considered a suitable alternative to traditional cement in orthodontic practice.