Enamel Mineral Volume vs Permeability as Resin-infiltrated Volume's Predictors

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the volume of enamel permeability (αd) and mineral volume (V1) as predictors of the volume infiltrated by resin infiltrant (Icon®) in inactive white spot lesions.
Methods: Twenty-six proximal natural carious lesions of enamel, white spot lesions, without cavitation and inactive, were selected by two calibrated examiners (Kappa intra-examiner of 0.87 and inter-examiner of 0.848). Ground sections (n = 26), with 4 histological points in the surface layer and 4 points along a central line in each lesion were selected to quantify mineral volumes (V1) and enamel permeability (αd).
Results: 183 histological points were analyzed. The correlations between mineral volume and permeability with the proportion of non-mineral volume infiltrated by Icon® had a correlation r of 0.199 and 0.923, respectively. Comparisons of the differences between αd x V1 correlation coefficients (p <0.00001, magnitude of effect q of 1.412, 95% CI of 1.567, 1.206, power> 99.9%) were made.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that αd was the best predictor of the proportion of pore volume infiltrated by infiltrating resin in inactive white spot lesions.