Fluorosis treatment

White or brown spots on enamel, symmetrical on matching teeth, are most often fluorosis. It does not go away on its own and is not removed by ordinary cleaning.

Fluorosis develops before the teeth erupt. If the body regularly receives excess fluoride while the enamel is forming — most often through drinking water — the enamel mineralizes differently. Visually this appears as chalky streaks, spots or mottling, and in more pronounced cases as yellow and brown areas. A characteristic sign: the changes are symmetrical, appearing on matching teeth on both the right and the left.

This is not decay. Fluorotic enamel does not break down the way carious enamel does, but it is more porous and holds colour less well. So ordinary whitening behaves differently here than with everyday coffee staining: the spots can become more noticeable against lightened enamel. The method is chosen according to the degree of change — from micro-invasive options to restoration.

Enamel hypoplasia — a different disorder of enamel formation — can look similar. Only a dentist at an examination can tell them apart and choose a method: whether infiltration is enough or restoration is required depends on the diagnosis.

When to come in

There are white chalky spots or streaks on the enamel

There are yellow or brown areas that cleaning does not remove

The spots are placed symmetrically on matching teeth

You grew up in an area with elevated fluoride in the water

Home whitening did not help, or made the spots more noticeable

How fluorosis is treated

ICON infiltration A micro-invasive method: porous enamel is infiltrated with a resin, making the spot optically blend in. No tooth tissue is drilled away.

Microabrasion Removing the thinnest surface layer of altered enamel with an abrasive compound.

Professional whitening Evens out the overall enamel tone. With fluorosis it is used where indicated and often combined with other methods.

Remineralization Saturating the enamel with minerals — accompanies treatment and reduces sensitivity.

Composite restoration Restoring colour and shape when the changes are too deep for infiltration.

E-max veneers An option for pronounced forms, when a natural appearance cannot be achieved another way.

How treatment goes

1 Diagnosis The dentist determines whether this is fluorosis, hypoplasia or early decay, and assesses the depth of the changes. The choice of method depends on this.

2 Preparation Professional hygiene: spots are assessed on clean enamel, otherwise plaque distorts the picture.

3 Treatment The dentist applies the chosen method — infiltration, microabrasion, whitening or a combination. Part of the work is done in a single visit.

4 Maintaining the result Remineralization and a home-care routine. The dentist explains what to avoid in the first days after the procedure.

Common questions

Can the spots be removed with home whitening? Usually not. Home products lighten the enamel overall, and a fluorotic spot can become more contrasting as a result. So with fluorosis a diagnosis comes first, and the method is matched to the degree of change.

Is fluorosis the same as decay? No. Decay is destruction of tissue by bacteria, whereas fluorosis is a property of the enamel itself, formed before the tooth erupted. But such enamel is more porous, so hygiene deserves closer attention.

Is fluorosis passed on to children? It is not a hereditary condition. It is linked to the amount of fluoride received while the teeth were forming. If the local water is high in fluoride, prevention for children is worth discussing with a dentist in advance.

How many visits are needed? It depends on the severity and the chosen method: some cases are resolved in one appointment, while more pronounced forms require several stages. The dentist gives an exact plan after an examination.

Our cases and the doctors’ training

Real before-and-after fluorosis results are in the our cases section, along with cases of enamel hypoplasia treatment.

Certificates for the “PRO whitening · ICON · Microabrasion” programme and for aesthetic restoration of anterior teeth are published on the doctors page.

Still have questions?

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The information on this page is general. A treatment plan, indications and contraindications are determined by a dentist at an in-person examination.