As the public’s demands for aesthetic perfection continue to soar in every aspect of their lives, not least with their teeth and smiles, the desire to eliminate even the slightest blemish becomes greater and greater. 

However, where it is acceptable to restore a distinct carious cavity with a suitable tooth coloured restoration or even a ceramic crown in more pronounced situations, damaging otherwise healthy tooth structure in order to eliminate an unsightly, but relatively superficial white spot on the enamel is definitely not. 

Therefore, where patients’ are requesting the removal of such minor, though to them serious, flaws a much less invasive treatment is necessary. If this can simultaneously eliminate the need for the anaesthetic needle and drill this is even more beneficial.

Icon, from DMG, is already well established for the treatment of decay at its earliest "white spot" stage on vestibular surfaces without the need for injections or drilling. It restores the optical properties of the tooth structure thereby returning the tooth’s natural shade. As such it serves as a non-invasive cosmetic procedure for white and brown spot lesions.

The very fluent Icon resin fills the lesion and the spot is masked because of a very similar refractive index of the lesion and the natural tooth structure. However, Icon resin works not only with lesions on the vestibular surface; it has originally been developed for the treatment of proximal lesions, a fact not known by many users.

Interdental applications

Using the approximal version of Icon, interdental decay can be halted in its early stages, without the need for occlusal access, which helps to preserve healthy tooth substance and improves the prognosis of the tooth. It can be used to treat lesions up to D1. Consequently, Icon offers a quick remedy for interproximal white and brown spot lesions resulting from a variety of attacks including fixed orthodontic treatment.

How does Icon work?

Icon utilizes an innovative caries infiltration concept. The special etch opens the surface layer and microporosities. After desiccating the lesion, capillary forces draw the resin infiltrate into the resulting voids. The light cured resin forms a permanent seal, starving the bacteria in the tooth structure from substrate and hereby preventing the progression of the lesion. 

How does Icon differ from traditional fillings?

Icon does not require the removal of any tooth substance to be performed. As such it is as minimally invasive as a restoration can be. Anxious patients will appreciate that normally no injections or drilling is required. With its innovative concept Icon repairs only the damaged tooth substance; there is no need to remove healthy tooth substance for access or stability reasons.

Case Study* 

Male patient, 40 years old, no pathologies. Mesial brown spot on 25 (in position 24). The non cavitated lesion involves almost the full thickness of the enamel.

*Pictures supplied by Dr Giovanni Sammarco, DDS, Prof. under contract to the University of Insubria. AIC ( Italian Academy of Conservative Dentistry ) active member.