Two central incisors marked by white spots
This young patient came to the practice with a significant aesthetic concern linked to clearly visible white spots on her two upper central incisors (11 and 21). Although harmless, they had a real impact on her smile and on how she saw herself.
A white spot is an area of less mineralised enamel, which scatters light differently from healthy enamel. It is the depth of the spot that guides the treatment.
Assessing the lesions objectively before deciding
The aim was to make these spots less visible while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, through a minimally invasive approach combining etching and resin infiltration with micro-layering.
Analysis and photography: polarised light and transillumination to assess the extent of the lesions objectively and guide the clinical decision.
Outlining the areas to treat: the extent of each spot is marked precisely, for a targeted, conservative intervention.
Etching, air abrasion, drying, infiltration, micro-layering
With a rubber dam in place, the steps of the Icon technique follow one another in a precise order.
Etching: the etching gel is applied, which makes resin infiltration possible.
Air abrasion: micro air abrasion to reach the spot and optimise adhesion.
Drying (Icon-Dry): the ethanol gives a preview of the final result; if the spot fades, the infiltration will be effective.
Resin infiltration (Icon): the resin penetrates by capillary action and brings the lesion’s refractive index close to that of natural enamel, so that the treated area blends in optically.
Composite layering: localised composite micro-layering restores the volume.
Polishing and a final check, under natural and polarised light.
A more even smile, with the enamel preserved
After polishing, the check under natural and polarised light shows less visible spots and a continuous surface: a more even smile, one she is comfortable showing, with as much healthy tissue as possible preserved.
An individual result: it depends on the depth of the lesions, which the examination tries to anticipate. Another case of white spots shows a different approach, with whitening beforehand.
