Resin Infiltration (Icon): Treatment of Early Tooth Lesions Without Drilling

A method called resin infiltration, commercially known as the product "Icon", allows treating very early tooth lesions without drilling and without traditional fillings. Instead of removing tooth tissue by drilling, the liquid resin penetrates the outer layer of enamel that has already begun to soften and stops the progression of the lesion.

The treatment was studied at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) by Dr. Augusto Robles and Dr. Nathaniel Lawson, in a trial involving about 150 patients.

It is important to understand the limitations of the method: it is suitable only for early, small, non-cavitated enamel lesions (for example, between teeth or on smooth surfaces), at a stage where no actual cavity has yet formed. In this way, the method can halt the progression of early lesions and reduce the need for future drilling and filling in those lesions. It is not a substitute for treating established caries or large cavities, and cannot be used when a cavity has already formed in the tooth. Therefore, it does not eliminate the need for more advanced treatments in cases where damage has already progressed.

Additional information:
https://www.uab.edu/news/health/item/13175-no-filling-no-drilling-an-expert-s-guide-to-the-top-tooth-tech-of-2022