White Spots on Front Teeth: Are They Cavities? (White Spots Treatment) ICON Resin Treatment @ Yonsei JW Dental Clinic

 

 

Hello, this is Yonsei JW Dental Clinic in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, Seoul.

 

Do you have concerns about irregular white spots on the surface of your front teeth? White spots, commonly found on front teeth, can appear for various reasons. These white spots tend to stand out more after whitening treatments. What causes these white spots, and how can they be treated?

Why Do White Spots Occur?

 

White spots occur due to structural defects in the enamel layer of the teeth that happen during tooth development, resulting in insufficient mineralization. When the enamel is under-mineralized, light reflects off it differently, making it appear white.

White spots can also form due to external factors. If a child under six, when permanent teeth are developing inside the gums, consumes too much fluoride, fluorosis may occur in the permanent teeth, resulting in white spots. Permanent front teeth, which play a crucial aesthetic role, develop around age four. If fluoride toothpaste is swallowed during this period, it can accumulate in the body, leading to white spots. Additionally, trauma or cavities in primary teeth can damage the developing tooth bud of the permanent teeth inside the gums, also resulting in white spots.

 

If, during orthodontic treatment, plaque builds up around brackets due to insufficient brushing, cavities can develop. Before cavities form, demineralization (loss of calcium and phosphate ions) of the tooth surface may occur, resulting in white spots. During this process, calcium and phosphate ions are lost from the enamel, creating pores that reflect light differently, resulting in a white, opaque appearance.

 

Front teeth white spots

 

White spot after orthodontics

 

 

Yonsei JW Dental Clinic's ICON Resin Treatment (White Spots Treatment)

At Yonsei JW Dental Clinic, we treat these white spots on front teeth with ICON resin infiltration. Unlike traditional methods, which involve grinding down the tooth and covering it with resin or laminate veneers, ICON treatment opens up the porous structure of the tooth to allow resin infiltration, meaning there is no need to remove any tooth material. Since this method does not involve simply applying resin to the tooth, there is no risk of the resin falling off, and it requires fewer retreatments, making it a safe and long-lasting solution.

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Recently, a patient visited our clinic, concerned about white spots on two lower front teeth that had been present since childhood and had recently turned brown. This brown spot was an advanced stage of the initial white spot, requiring treatment. The left front tooth had a slight surface erosion and depression on its surface along with the brown spot. If the brown spots are extensive, it’s more effective to begin with a whitening treatment to reduce the intensity of the brown spots, then proceed with ICON treatment after about two weeks.

 

2024. 10

 

In this case, as the brown spots weren’t extensive, we decided to proceed with ICON treatment on the two lower front teeth. First, we cleaned the tooth surface with a fluoride-free polishing paste, then etched the surface two or three times with 15% hydrochloric acid to create a porous structure. After sufficient drying, ICON resin was applied and cured, followed by polishing the tooth surface to achieve a smooth finish. Fortunately, in this case, the brown spots were not extensive, and they disappeared completely with just the etching.

 

Brown spots after etching

 

Here is a photo taken immediately after the ICON treatment. You can see that both the white and brown spots improved without any additional resin treatment. Although the image was taken with the tooth in a dry state, making it appear as if some white spots remain, the teeth look much more aesthetically natural in a moist, natural oral environment. After one to two weeks, the results will appear even more natural.

 

Before & After photos of ICON Treatment

 

The patient was also very satisfied with the results. Often, treatments for white spots provide high satisfaction because these spots have been a long-term concern for the patient, even if not noticeable to others. If you’re struggling with white spots on your front teeth, we encourage you to visit Yonsei JW Dental Clinic for treatment.

In cases where the demineralization is extensive and deep, complete removal of white spots may not be possible. If the internal condition of the tooth prevents the porous structure from opening fully, penetration of the ICON resin might be difficult. In such cases, additional resin treatment may be necessary after ICON treatment, so we recommend getting an evaluation beforehand.

 

 

Located next to the BMW building at the Daechi-dong Woosung Apartment intersection

(across from Starbucks/Samsung Store).

Convenient and free parking available.

For consultations and inquiries: 02-501-2879

https://wa.me/8225012879

 

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