What are those white spots I see after braces?
One is the most common issues patients face after removing their braces are white spot formation in certain areas on the teeth.
To learn more about Braces or clear aligners
(White spots after removing braces; Figure 1)
Why does this happen?
Most patient think that the braces are the cause of those white spots appearing, however they are the result of plaque buildup due to poor oral hygiene habits during orthodontic treatment.
The white spots are the beginning stage of dental caries (Dental Cavities) that have not yet broken through the outer layer (enamel). Even without braces these dental decalcifications or white spots generally affect 24% of teenagers. Furthermore, if you have braces, it goes up to 50% according to a recent study in research journal.
How do I prevent white spots on my teeth?
With proper oral hygiene utilizing an electric toothbrush and a water flosser, you can easily avoid those spots.
Figure 2: Types of tooth brushes
Figure 2: Types of tooth brushes
How can I remove the white spots on my teeth?
- Improving your oral hygiene habits is key.
- Visit your dentist every 6 months for a re-care appointment, and the application of topical fluoride.
- Caries Infiltration is a new technique that we utilize at Al Bahri Dental and Orthodontic Center, it’s a minimally invasive procedure where we infiltrate the white spots with low viscosity resin.
- Veneers are another minimally invasive option, where we place very thin laminates onto the teeth to modify the color and shape of the teeth
Also See: https://albahridental.com/veneers-aka-hollywood-smile-worth-it/
- Whitening procedures (Teeth Bleaching) may improve the white lesions however the white lesions may also be whitened.
Also See: https://albahridental.com/thinking-of-a-teeth-whitening-procedure/
References
- Tufekci E, Dixon JS, Gunsolley JC, Lindauer SJ. Prevalence of white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Angle Orthod. 2011 Mar;81(2):206-10. doi: 10.2319/051710-262.1. PMID: 21208070; PMCID: PMC8925248.
- Doméjean SDucamp R, Léger S, Holmgren C: Resin Infiltration of Non-Cavitated Caries Lesions: A Systematic Review. Med Princ Pract 2015;24:216-221. doi: 10.1159/000371709
Written by:
Dr. Rami Albahri DDS, MMSc.
Prosthodontics and Implant Surgeon.
Harvard & NYU Educated.
Medical Director.
For consultations contact us
Abu Dhabi – +971 2 575 1856
Al Ain – +971 3 7643273
Email: info@albahridental.com
