Evaluation of the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of early forms of caries using the ICON method based on laser-fluorescence analysis

Objective. To develop an improved diagnostic protocol for a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of infiltration therapy. Material and methods. 208 patients with caries in the stage of a spot (white and pigmented) were treated by the method of innovative infiltration of the surface layer of enamel using the ICON technique. Evaluation of the results (objective diagnosis of the condition of the surface layers of enamel) was performed using a DIAGNOdent Pen device (Kavodentalg GmbH, Germany) using laser-induced fluorescence technology (the difference in the nature of the glow between healthy and demineralized dental tissue). Results. After 6 months, 43.1% of patients showed complete restoration of the surface layer of enamel using the ICON technique, and after 12 months, only 1 case of enamel caries was registered. After 24 months, patients with pigmented carious spots on their tooth enamel showed long-term stability and no further progression of the carious process, while those with white spot caries showed greater progression of the carious process: 4 patients (7.8%) on the vestibular surfaces and 8 patients (16.7%) on the proximal surfaces of the tooth (p<0.05). Conclusion. Long-term observation has established the high efficiency of this technique in terms of the treatment of carious spots and the reduction of the probability of further progression of caries, depending on the type of carious spot and the localization area of the carious process. The possibility of widespread application of this technology has been substantiated.