One of the most common reasons for postponing a visit to the dentist is fear of pain. Lingering beliefs about unpleasant experiences in the dentist’s chair discourage many people from visiting these professionals more often. It’s no secret that delaying preventive check-ups can lead to more serious problems. In response to patients’ fears and in order to encourage them to have regular dental check-ups, new treatments are being developed that allow patients to undergo the procedures without any discomfort. One such treatment is the “Icon” system. CLINIC | DPC Oral Hygienist Indrė Kirkliauskaitė explains how this procedure differs from conventional caries treatments.
Suitable for both primary caries treatment and removal of dental stains
Many people associate dental treatment with the horrifying sound of a drill, pain and other unpleasant sensations. But thanks to today’s medical advances, all of these things can be avoided. According to I. Kirkliauskaitė, with the “Icon” system, damaged tooth enamel is restored without any drills or fillings, which is why this procedure is recommended for removing white stains or stains left over from braces, as well as for healing the initial caries.
“Treatment with the `Icon` system is minimally invasive. This means that the tooth is not drilled during treatment and the patient feels no pain or discomfort. By the way, this procedure is not only used to treat cavities. With `Icon`, it is also possible to remove stains on the teeth caused by various internal bodily causes, such as fluorosis,” says the oral hygienist.
The specialist adds that this is currently the most advanced method to cure minor enamel damage, so she urges everyone not to wait until the problem becomes more serious and expensive treatment is needed.
“Icon” is effective in the early stages of decay, when we see discoloration on the enamel surface. These are usually in the neck of the tooth, near the gum. Unfortunately, advanced caries, which occurs in the deeper tissues of the tooth, already requires therapeutic treatment by removing the damaged tissues and restoring them with filling material. It is therefore very important to have a regular preventive check-up or professional oral hygiene, as the specialist will definitely notice the initial signs of caries,” emphasizes I. Kirkliauskaitė.
Fast and effective
Studies show that treatment with the “Icon” system is 89% more effective than fluoride therapy. The “Icon” treatment prevents deeper enamel damage, keeping your teeth healthy, and the removal of white spots makes your teeth look more beautiful and uniform in color. According to the CLINIC | DPC oral hygienist, the procedure takes just 30-60 minutes and is very easy to prepare for.
“As far as the procedure is concerned, first of all, the carious lesions or stains on the teeth are removed with a special acid. This is the main stage of treatment. After the treatment, a resin is infiltrated onto the tooth, which has enamel-like properties, resulting in a good color result. Well, most importantly, this infiltrate acts as a barrier to protect the tooth from acids and bacteria, so that the tooth is sealed off from external influences. Typically, treatment of a single tooth with the “Icon” system takes between 30 minutes and an hour. Repeat visits are not necessary for treatment, but we meet with patients after a few weeks for a short follow-up visit.
Preparation for this procedure is very simple – professional oral hygiene is recommended, as it is before every treatment. Sometimes, to achieve better aesthetic results, we recommend that patients undergo teeth whitening before treatment with the “Icon” system. The entire treatment plan is discussed during the consultation. No special care is required after the procedure, so patients can return to their normal life rhythm immediately,” says I. Kirkliauskaitė.
Interested in the Icon procedure? Sign up for a consultation on tel. +370 632 00005, e-mail. E-mail [email protected]. For more information visit www.clinicdpc.lt
