Repairing Tooth Discoloration From White Spots
The beginning stage of caries or tooth decay is discoloration, often in the form of white spots on the surface of the tooth. They’re often the result of fluorosis or ineffective brushing habits during orthodontic treatment. Until now, there has been no truly effective treatment option for these cariogenic white spots. Our Icon treatment finally has the solution.
White Spots From Fluorosis: Surface stains that affect the tooth enamel sometimes appear on a tooth that is otherwise healthy. One cause of this kind of stain is fluorosis. Fluorosis occurs when developing adult teeth are exposed to too much fluoride. It doesn’t damage the teeth, but it does unevenly bleach them, leaving white spots on them before they even grow in.
The Effects of Demineralization:
A more harmful cause of white spots is demineralization. Demineralization is the gradual leaching of crucial minerals like calcium from the tooth enamel. Plaque buildup and acid exposure over time lead to demineralization, and people with braces are particularly susceptible to it. This kind of white spot is common in former orthodontic patients.
Enamel Hypoplasia: For an unlucky minority, white spots don’t come from demineralization or fluorosis, but from enamel hypoplasia, a condition that leaves the teeth with thinner enamel than usual and therefore more vulnerable to stains and decay. Causes of enamel hypoplasia in a child’s teeth include the mother smoking while pregnant, malnutrition, and premature birth.
Treating White Spots: It’s always better to prevent white spots from developing to begin with, but if they do appear, there are a few ways to treat them. Not all stains can be removed with bleaching or microabrasion, but thanks to Icon, there’s no need to jump all the way to veneers.
How Does Icon Work?: Icon is an elegant solution to white spots. It is painless and minimally invasive, making for a comfortable and relaxing patient experience that will have long-lasting results. White spots are the result of an imbalance between remineralization and demineralization, meaning that some parts of the enamel have more minerals than others — and therefore different colors. In a white spot, the minerals are unable to reach the deeper parts of the enamel.
How does Icon correct white spot lesions? The process is simple:
- •The dentist uses gentle microabrasion to expose the micro-tubules in the dentin layer of the tooth. They apply an etching material to prepare the tooth for bonding.
- •While keeping the tooth dry, the dentist applies the resin, which penetrates the lesion and soaks into the tooth, forming a bond with the dentin.
- •The dentist removes excess resin and uses a special light to harden resin inside the tooth.
- •The dentist polishes the tooth.
Treatment time with Icon is quick and easy, typically taking around an hour, and there’s no recovery time afterward!
What are the benefits of Icon white spot treatment over other whitening methods?:
- •No discomfort during the procedure, and no needles required.
- •Icon preserves healthy tooth structure.
- •Icon is a viable option for children with white spots from orthodontic treatment or fluorosis, unlike other treatments.
- •Icon is more affordable than treatments like veneers.
- •Long-lasting results.
- •Traditional whitening treatments can make white spots look worse, but after Icon treatment, you can take full advantage of professional whitening!
Are You a Candidate for Icon Treatment?: If you have white spots and have been looking for a way to improve the appearance of your smile, come to our office so that we can determine if you’d be a good candidate for treatment with Icon. We love helping our patients achieve their smile goals.