A conservative option
Improve uneven tooth color while preserving natural enamel
White spots on your teeth can remain visible even after whitening. ICON resin infiltration treats certain types of white spots by helping them blend with the surrounding enamel. It can be an option for patients who want to improve uneven tooth color while preserving natural tooth structure.
At Shapiro Dental Group, we examine the affected teeth, explain what is causing the spots, and discuss whether ICON is likely to improve their appearance.
01
What is ICON resin infiltration?
Some white spots develop when enamel loses minerals and becomes porous. These areas reflect light differently, making them look whiter than the rest of the tooth. ICON fills the tiny pores with a fluid resin, reducing that contrast.
Suitable spots can be treated without conventional drilling or preparing the tooth for a veneer. In some early areas of decay, before a cavity has formed, infiltration can also help slow or stop the lesion from progressing.
02
Is ICON right for my teeth?
ICON may help with white spots left after braces, certain areas of mineral loss, and some spots caused by fluorosis. The cause and depth of each spot matter. Your dentist will examine the enamel before recommending treatment, since deeper discoloration or cavities may need another approach.
03
What to expect
- Prepare. Your dentist cleans the teeth and protects the surrounding area.
- Condition. A conditioning gel prepares the enamel so the resin can penetrate it.
- Infiltrate. After the tooth is dried, the fluid resin is applied to the enamel.
- Finish. The resin is hardened with a curing light and the surface is polished.
Treatment can often be completed in one visit. How much the spots fade depends on their depth and how the enamel responds. We will discuss the expected result before starting.
04
Common questions
Is ICON the same as teeth whitening?
Whitening lightens tooth color. ICON treats suitable white spots by changing how light passes through the affected enamel. Your dentist can advise whether either treatment, or a combination, would help.
Will every white spot disappear?
Some spots blend well with the surrounding tooth; others remain partly visible. Your dentist will explain what improvement is realistic for your teeth.
