DMG America, a dental technology company out of Englewood, N.J., is selling a light cured infiltrant resin that is useful for treating early cavities. At the very early stage of tooth decay, before a formal, treatable cavity has developed, fluoride treatment is often used as prophylaxis. But after a certain level of tooth decay, fluoride will be of no use, yet drilling the tooth to treat the cavity is not merited either, since filling a cavity with this method destroys healthy tooth tissue, and it is uncertain whether the decay will continue to a point that requires treatment. Dentists at this stage usually wait to see how the tooth decay progresses, but the Icon system gives dentists another option and allows them either the ability to treat decay that they view as particularly vulnerable to progression or treat a patient who they view as not likely to practice healthy dental hygiene. The technology is also useful for the treatment of cariogenic white spot lesions.
From the press release:
“Icon represents a new category of dental products,” said Tim Haberstumpf, DMG America director of marketing. “It is the first product to bridge the gap between prevention (fluoride therapy) and caries restoration. Icon’s micro-invasive infiltration technology can be used to treat smooth surface and proximal carious lesions up to the first third of dentin (D-1). In just one patient visit, Icon can arrest the progression of early enamel lesions and remove white spot lesions.”
When a dentist discovers incipient caries that are beyond preventive therapies though too early for restorative treatment, Icon offers a simple alternative to the ‘wait and see’ approach. With Icon, the dentist can offer immediate treatment without unnecessary loss of healthy tooth structure. Icon prevents lesion progression and increases life expectancy for the tooth. Icon also provides a highly esthetic alternative to microabrasion and other restorative treatments for cariogenic white spot lesions. White spot lesions infiltrated by Icon take on the appearance of the surrounding healthy enamel.
Press Release: Introducing Icon…
Product Page: DMG Icon…
(hat tip: Gizmodo)