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ICON treatment

ICON white-spot treatment

A gentle, drill-free way to blend away white spots, early decay and fluorosis on the front surfaces of the teeth, usually in a single visit.

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White spots on teeth that can be treated with ICON resin infiltration at Align Dental Surgery

Who ICON treatment is for

ICON resin infiltration is for white spots that regular whitening cannot fix. It helps with the opaque white-spot lesions linked to fluorosis, with the white lines and early decay spots that can appear after braces when enamel has become hypomineralised, and with the chalky marks that weak enamel can leave on the smooth front surfaces of the teeth.

Whitening lightens every tooth. ICON instead targets the specific spots and infiltrates a tooth-coloured resin into the affected enamel so the marks blend into the surrounding tooth for a more even look.

A consultation to assess tooth discolouration and white spots at Align Dental Surgery

Is ICON right for you

ICON is not a substitute for whitening. It is designed to address specific types of discolouration rather than to change the overall shade of your teeth, and these particular marks are not removed by Zoom whitening, so where you plan to whiten as well, ICON is carried out first.

ICON may suit you if you have

  • Opaque white-spot lesions on the smooth surfaces of the teeth from fluorosis
  • White lines or decalcification spots that appeared after wearing braces, from hypomineralisation
  • Very early decay on a smooth surface that you want to arrest before it becomes a cavity

What a visit involves

The procedure is simple and non-invasive, and usually takes one appointment of about 45 to 60 minutes. It needs no injections, no drilling and no removal of healthy tooth structure, and there is no recovery time, so you can eat and drink normally afterwards.

The procedure, step by step

  1. Cleaning: we clean the teeth thoroughly to remove surface debris.
  2. Infiltration: we prepare the affected enamel and apply the ICON resin, which soaks into the porous, discoloured area and matches it to the surrounding tooth.
  3. Polishing: we polish the teeth to a smooth, even finish.
DMG Icon Smooth Surface resin infiltration kit used for white-spot treatment at Align Dental Surgery

Benefits of ICON

ICON treats discolouration by infiltrating resin into the enamel rather than removing or covering tooth structure, which gives it a few practical advantages.

Benefits of ICON

  • No drilling or injections
  • Suitable for both children and adults
  • Supported by a substantial body of international research
  • Intended to last longer than surface bleaching, as the resin integrates into the enamel rather than sitting on top
  • Less invasive and often more affordable than restorations such as veneers or bonding

Questions & answers

ICON treatment: common questions

Will ICON treatment hurt?
No. ICON resin infiltration involves no injections, no drilling, and no removal of healthy tooth structure, which is one of the main reasons people choose it over more invasive options for treating white spots. The visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes and involves cleaning the teeth, preparing and infiltrating the affected enamel with the resin, and polishing. You can eat and drink normally straight afterwards with no recovery time. If you have ever avoided dealing with white marks because you were worried about the dentist, ICON is about as gentle as dental treatment gets.
Is ICON the same as teeth whitening?
No, they do different things. Whitening lightens the overall colour of all your teeth, while ICON targets specific discoloured spots, white-spot lesions from fluorosis, the white lines and decalcification marks that can appear after braces, and very early smooth-surface decay, by infiltrating resin into the affected enamel so the spot blends in. Because whitening can actually make white spots more noticeable, ICON is done first if you are planning to whiten too. If your concern is overall colour, you want whitening; if it is specific white marks, you want ICON; sometimes the best result combines both, and we will advise at your consultation.
Will the result last?
ICON resin infiltration is intended to be a long-lasting improvement, the resin integrates into the affected enamel rather than sitting on the surface, so it does not wash or wear off the way a surface treatment might. As with any dental work, the result is best maintained with good oral hygiene and regular check-ups, and avoiding new decalcification (for example by cleaning carefully if you are in braces). For most patients the treated areas stay blended in well. If you notice any change, mention it at a routine visit and we will take a look.

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