Resin infiltration is a minimally invasive dental treatment that works by applying a special resin to porous enamel to strengthen it and improve its appearance.
Understanding Resin Infiltration
Resin infiltration is a technique used primarily to treat early-stage tooth decay (caries) or certain cosmetic issues like white spots on the enamel surface. It involves a process where a low-viscosity resin is seeped into the microscopic pores within the enamel.
The Basic Principle
The fundamental way resin infiltration works, as described, is that the tooth is dehydrated via a chemical process and a resin is applied and absorbed into the enamel creating a uniform layer on the surface of the tooth and removing any color differences. This process essentially fills the porous areas within the enamel structure.
Step-by-Step Process (Simplified)
The application of resin infiltration typically involves a few key steps:
- Surface Preparation: The tooth surface is cleaned.
- Chemical Dehydration: A special etchant or chemical is applied to the enamel. This step is crucial as it dehydrates the tooth via a chemical process and creates micropores, preparing the enamel to receive the resin.
- Rinsing and Drying: The etchant is rinsed off, and the tooth is dried.
- Resin Application: A low-viscosity resin is applied and absorbed into the enamel. Due to its low viscosity, the resin can penetrate deeply into the pores created by the chemical process.
- Curing: The applied resin is hardened using a special light, effectively sealing and strengthening the porous enamel.
How it Works to Improve Appearance
The absorption of the resin into the porous enamel has several benefits:
- Filling Pores: The resin fills the spaces within the enamel that contribute to its weakened state (in the case of early decay) or irregular appearance (like white spots).
- Creating a Uniform Layer: As the reference states, the resin creates a uniform layer on the surface of the tooth. This uniform layer helps to normalize the light reflection properties of the enamel.
- Removing Color Differences: By filling the porous areas and creating a uniform surface, the resin infiltration process is effective at removing any color differences, such as those caused by white spot lesions which appear opaque due to light scattering in the porous enamel.
What is Resin Infiltration Used For?
Resin infiltration is commonly used to treat:
- Early-stage, non-cavitated caries lesions (incipient decay) on smooth surfaces or proximal surfaces (between teeth).
- White spot lesions, which can result from fluorosis, demineralization during orthodontic treatment (around braces), or other causes.
This technique helps to stop the progression of early decay and improves the aesthetic appearance by blending the white spots with the surrounding enamel.
