Application of direct laminate veneer for enamel protection during orthodontic treatment: an in vivo evaluation.

The aims of this study were to examine the enamel protective effect of a direct laminate veneer against acidic conditions, measure the amount of fluoride released from the veneer and which was taken up by the enamel, as well as evaluate the usefulness of the veneer for orthodontic treatment. First, a veneer was applied to rabbit incisors. Then, apart from using profile measurement microscope and electron probe microanalyzer to measure the roughness and fluoride concentration in the enamel of veneer-covered tooth surface, those of the uncovered adjacent tooth surface were measured too. It was found that the veneer protected the enamel surface from acidic conditions. Furthermore, fluoride ions were taken up by both the uncovered adjacent enamel area as well as by the covered area. These findings suggested that covering the enamel surface with a direct laminate veneer before bracket bonding might be a valuable means of tooth protection and caries prevention.