Can White Spots on Teeth Be Treated Without Drilling? A Real Icon (Resin Infiltration) Case

Hello, this is Yonsei Baro Dental Clinic, an orthodontic dental clinic in Apgujeong.

Icon treatment, recognized for treating white spots without drilling

In fact, Icon is a product name, while the official name of this treatment is resin infiltration—the infiltration of resin into microscopic particles.

What is Icon treatment?

Icon is the product name, and its official name is Resin Infiltration.

• Treatment is possible without removing tooth structure

• Usually performed without anesthesia

• Treatment time: approximately 20 minutes

Because the teeth are not drilled, anesthesia is not necessary, and the treatment takes only about 20 minutes.

Composite resin treatment requires drilling, so anesthesia is needed.

This is good news for people who have been hesitant to receive treatment because they are afraid of pain.

The question people with white spot lesions are most curious about is, “Why did they develop in the first place?”

Why do white spots develop on teeth?

White spot lesions can develop for various reasons.

• Congenital enamel formation defects

• Fluorosis

• Demineralization after orthodontic treatment

• Early-stage cavities

Some white spot lesions are present from birth due to genetic factors or medication exposure.

They can also be caused by fluoride. If a child consumes excessive fluoride during infancy, when the permanent teeth have not yet erupted and are still developing inside the jawbone, fluorosis can occur and become a cause of white spot lesions.

On the other hand, some permanent teeth erupt in a clean condition but later develop white areas of demineralization due to inadequate brushing. This is another cause of white spot lesions.

The causes vary, as do the depths of the spots and the degree of improvement each patient hopes to achieve. Therefore, we recommend different treatment methods depending on the individual situation.

This patient visited us for no-prep Icon treatment because they had white spot lesions on their four front teeth.

White spot lesions usually consist of areas with varying depths, including both deeper and shallower sections.

Resin may not infiltrate some of the deeper areas, so white spots may remain.

If a completely uniform result is desired, these areas must be drilled and treated with composite resin. However, because the overall area of whiteness is greatly reduced compared with the initial condition, many patients choose not to undergo resin treatment even if a small amount remains.

We explained the possibility that some white areas might remain before proceeding with treatment.

This is a photo taken after approximately 20 minutes of treatment.

Some areas still appear slightly white, but the patient wanted to finish with a natural-looking result, so no additional resin treatment was performed.

When the teeth are photographed up close, the white areas are noticeable.

However, they are barely visible in an overall facial photo taken under natural lighting.

Composite resin can discolor over time and needs to be replaced, so given this level of result, we do not recommend resin treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Icon treatment painful?

In most cases, it is performed without anesthesia.

Q. How long does the treatment take?

It takes approximately 20 minutes.

Q. Can white spots that developed after orthodontic treatment also be treated?

If demineralization is the cause, treatment is often possible.

This Treatment Case

Before Treatment

• White spots on four front teeth

• Desired treatment without removing tooth structure

After Treatment

• Most of the white spots improved

• Some deeper areas remained slightly visible

• Finished without additional resin treatment