Resin Infiltration Outperformed Varnish for White Spot Lesions in Children, Trial Finds

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Posted: June 18, 2026

Resin Infiltration Outperformed Varnish for White Spot Lesions in Children, Trial Finds

Edited by Dentaltown staff

A resin infiltration technique improved the appearance of white spot lesions more than a coating varnish over 12 weeks, according to a randomized trial published June 15 in Saudi Dental Journal.

Researchers compared Icon resin infiltration with Vanish XT varnish for treating white spot lesions, the chalky patches of demineralized enamel that commonly follow orthodontic treatment, early decay, or fluorosis. Resin infiltration works by drawing a low-viscosity resin into the porous lesion to mask it, while the varnish coats the enamel surface.

The single-blinded trial treated 138 white spot lesions in 33 children aged 7 to 14, randomly assigning lesions to Icon (75) or Vanish XT (63). The team measured how closely each treated lesion matched adjacent healthy enamel using a color-difference score, where lower numbers indicate a closer match, and had esthetic improvement rated on a visual analog scale.

At 12 weeks, the resin infiltration group showed a markedly closer color match than the varnish group, with mean color-difference scores of 4.69 versus 8.50. Immediately after treatment the gap was even wider, though the authors cautioned that those early readings may have been exaggerated by temporary enamel dehydration during the procedure.

Visual analog scores for aesthetic satisfaction and opacity reduction were also significantly higher for the resin infiltration group. Minor surface staining appeared in two infiltration-treated lesions at follow-up but did not affect overall aesthetic perception, the authors reported.

The study was conducted by Al-Blaihed and colleagues in the pediatric dentistry departments at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Alexandria University in Egypt. The authors reported no competing interests.

The researchers noted the short follow-up period and said conclusions about long-term color stability remain limited.

Sources:
Saudi Dental Journal: doi.org/10.1007/s44445-026-00193-5
PubMed: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42295618


Resin Infiltration Outperformed Varnish for White Spot Lesions in Children, Trial Finds

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