Bright white teeth are something we all aspire to have. And when we think of those bright white teeth, we think of a white color that’s smooth and consistent from top to bottom. However, there are some cases where ‘very’ white spots develop on your teeth. If that’s ever happened to you, the last thing you probably feel like doing is smiling.
These white spots may be caused by a number of things, but they can be fixed by a treatment called ICON therapy. Here, you’ll learn more about the white spots on your teeth, what you can do about them, and how you can prevent new white spots from developing.
How Did I Get White Spots On My Teeth?
Lakewood, CO dentists call those tiny, ‘very’ white spots on your teeth ‘lesions’. The lesions are likely caused from overexposure to some kind of acid – either from your diet or from when you had your braces. It’s also possible that they are from overexposure to fluoride as a child, poor brushing or flossing habits, or genetic issues that prevented proper development of enamel on your tooth. In any case, the overexposure stripped tiny areas of your tooth of its natural minerals and enamel, which ultimately caused its color to change.
Unfortunately, without intervention, the lesions will usually get worse. Thankfully, ICON therapy at your Lakewood, Colorado dentist office can correct these lesions.
What is ICON Therapy and How Does It Work?
ICON stands for Infiltration CONcept. It involves infiltrating, or filling, your lesion with a resin material to prevent it from eroding. It also replaces the color that you lost.
The treatment process is entirely pain-free and only requires one treatment to work. The process is as follows:
- First, your Lakewood dentist will apply an HCI chemical. This erodes the surface of the lesion so that resin can be put into it.
- Once enough time has passed for the HCI chemical to work, your dentist will fill the spot with a resin material.
- Once the material dries, it will match the color of the rest of your tooth and also stop the demineralization process.
How does the dentist get the mix just right to match your teeth color?
In truth, they don’t have to. The white spot only appears white because the lack of minerals in your tooth causes light to reflect off the tooth differently. Once the material is put in place, light will reflect in the same way that it does from your other teeth, leaving you with one consistent color.
How Can I Prevent White Spots From Redeveloping On My Teeth?
Considered to be a long-term treatment solution, ICON Therapy lasts from at least two years to up to six years or more. After treatment, to prevent white spots from occurring again, your Colorado dentist recommends practicing these habits:
- Using fluoride toothpaste, except for with young children
- Using the right amount of toothpaste and brushing twice a day
- Drinking less acidic and sugary drinks
- Seeing a dentist regularly to keep your teeth healthy
Interested in learning more about ICON Therapy for the white spots on your teeth? Schedule your next appointment with Dr. Elizabeth Turner here and she’ll get to know you and evaluate your unique needs.
To learn more about cosmetic dentistry services in Lakewood, Colorado, visit this page here.
