Polishing vs Hydrogen Peroxide: Effect on DIAGNOdent Readings in Stained Fissures

Overview

This study compared two methods of cleaning stained pits and grooves (fissures) on the chewing surfaces of back teeth before measuring them with a laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent), which is used to help detect early tooth decay. In the same patients, one side of the mouth was treated with mechanical polishing using a prophylaxis paste, while the other side was treated with a 35% hydrogen peroxide gel. The study measured whether either cleaning method changed the device's readings, and if so, by how much. The results showed that the readings increased after both procedures, but the increase was larger after polishing than after hydrogen peroxide application. These findings may help clinicians better interpret DIAGNOdent readings after cleaning stained teeth.

In this randomized, single-blind, split-mouth clinical study, 126 posterior teeth from 24 adult participants with clinically visible occlusal fissure staining were evaluated. For each participant, opposing jaws were randomly assigned to receive either mechanical polishing with a fluoride-free prophylaxis paste (30 seconds) or a 35% hydrogen peroxide gel (15 minutes). DIAGNOdent Pen laser fluorescence measurements were recorded at three time points: baseline, after air-water spray cleaning and drying, and after the assigned surface procedure. Digital bite-wing radiographs were obtained as a non-invasive clinical reference. Within-group comparisons were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and between-protocol comparisons were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model with patient as a random effect and surface procedure as a fixed effect.