Comparative Study of Microabrasion and Resin Infiltration on Enamel Color Stability and Surface Characteristics: A Systematic Review

Aim This systematic review aims to compare the effectiveness of micro abrasion and resin infiltration on enamel color stability and surface characteristics in the treatment of white spot lesions (WSLs). Both techniques are widely used for improving the esthetic appearance of teeth, but limited research directly compares their long-term outcomes. Materials and Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Scopus for studies published between 2009 and 2023. The inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials, and in vitro studies comparing resin infiltration and micro abrasion or evaluating one of these techniques on color stability (ΔE values) and surface roughness (Ra). Out of 352 initial records, 11 studies, involving 236 participants and 1180 teeth, met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in detail. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings due to the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results Resin infiltration consistently proved superior color stability, with ΔE values ranging from 2.1 to 9.2, showing long-term esthetic improvements lasting up to 24 months. In contrast, micro abrasion displayed more variable color stability, with ΔE values ranging from 3.5 to 10.5 and frequent color relapse within 6 months. Surface roughness was significantly lower in resin infiltration treatments, with Ra values consistently below 0.2 µm, compared to micro abrasion, which produced a rougher surface with Ra values between 0.25 to 0.8 µm. Conclusion Resin infiltration offers better long-term esthetic outcomes in terms of color stability and surface smoothness compared to micro abrasion. While micro abrasion may be effective for superficial lesions, its rougher surface and greater likelihood of color relapse make it less ideal for long-term esthetic improvements. Future studies should focus on long-term clinical trials with standardized outcomes to further evaluate the durability of both treatments.