Prior to the caries infiltrant’s inception, clinicians had only two options upon discovering incipient caries: using fluoride and other treatments in an often-futile attempt to remineralize enamel, or simply waiting until it became time to drill and fill. With the advent of Icon, they could now immediately and micro-invasively fill and reinforce demineralized enamel without drilling or anesthesia.
For the last 10 years, Icon has offered dental professionals and their patients a significant advantage over fluoride therapy, which is not always effective when caries have advanced to the stage of discovery. Equally important, Icon has made it unnecessary to sacrifice healthy tooth structure with drilling. Instead, it is now possible to arrest the progress of early enamel lesions in up to the first third of dentin in one simple procedure.
Soon after its 2009 launch, numerous clinical studies confirmed that Icon is also effective for the cosmetic treatment of cariogenic white spots on smooth surfaces. Lesions infiltrated by Icon take on the appearance of the surrounding healthy enamel, thereby providing a highly esthetic, single-treatment alternative to micro-abrasion and restorative treatments of cariogenic white spots.
According to Timothy Hess, DDS, “White spots are a major issue for my post-orthodontic patients. Icon enables me to remove them in one simple, painless treatment. It’s a ‘wow’ moment for the patient, and a significant source of growth for my practice.”
Dental professionals interested in learning more about Icon may view an on-demand webinar titled “Resin Infiltration: A Minimally Invasive Treatment Option for Enamel Caries and Cosmetic Defects.” The free webinar, which is conducted by Jeanette MacLean, DDS, and offers 1 CEU credit, is available for viewing at https://www.vivalearning.com/member/classroom.asp?x_source=DENTREK&x_classID=3640
For information about DMG and its category-defining products, please visit https://www.dmg-america.com/.
