Background: Enamel opacities can be aesthetically unpleasing and are frequently managed using invasive techniques which involves sacrificing sound tooth structure. The emergence of ICONTM has introduced a microinvasive technology which is capable of treating discoloration while sparing the tooth structure.
Result: Infiltration of early enamel lesions by ICONTM which possess low viscosity property has the ability of masking the effect of discoloration and maintain its color stability by alteration of tooth’s refractive index. This also could be attributed to adherence to the steps involved in the treatment, particularly the removal of hypermineralized enamel surface layer employing the tailored etching times and cycles, and the addition of ethanol which results in complete penetration depth and resistance to discoloration. This in turn will significantly result in the accentuated aesthetic outcome of early enamel lesions and masking of stains.
Conclusion: From an aesthetic perspective, the application of ICONTM for the treatment of enamel opacities currently offers a very satisfying and conservative technique because of its shorter working time, stability of the result, little invasiveness, and reduction in patients’ discomfort. This technique is considered microinvasive and bridges the gap between non-invasive and minimally invasive treatment of early dental caries, delaying the need for restoration as long as feasible. The unpredictability of the aesthetic outcomes is this ICONTM limitation.
Key words: ICONTM, resin infiltration, enamel opacity, 15% hydrochloric acid, ethanol
|
