Teeth Microabrasion

If you feel embarrassed by your smile because of white patches on your teeth. It’s not just superficial marks; they are a major cause of lack of confidence. If you are searching for a comprehensive solution that delivers maximum aesthetic results with minimal damage to your teeth, you are in the right place. 

At Suave Dental Clinic, we offer an elegant and conservative approach to treating white or brown spots on your teeth. Teeth microabrasion provides an immediate, fast, and non-invasive transformation that restores your smile without compromising your teeth’s structure. 

What is teeth microabrasion?

Teeth microabrasion, Enamel microabrasion, or abrosion,  is a minimally invasive technique used mainly for the removal of the superficial enamel defects and stains (not exceeding 0.2mm in depth). It is a combination of chemical erosion and mechanical abrasion. 

• Chemical action: With hydrochloric acid (6.6%), it chemically erodes the enamel surface. 
• Mechanical action: silicon carbide pumice, micro-abrasive particles that scrub the enamel surface mechanically.

This technique aims to conservatively remove the affected enamel’s outer superficial layer, exposing the healthy layer beneath. 

How is micro-abrasion done for teeth?

It’s a simple technique that is done without even local anesthesia and ends within a few minutes. The steps are as follows: 

1. Diagnosis: it’s the first step that should be properly done for the success of the whole process, as microabrasion is not suitable for stains in dentin-level or more than 0.3mm deep. Dentists may need to perform the transillumination test to confirm whether the stains are on the dentin level or shallower.
2. Documentation: It’s important to document the case photographically before starting. The teeth’s condition is evaluated, and the initial shade is recorded on the shade guide.
3. Soft tissue protection: Due to acidic content, dentists use a light-cured resin barrier on gum tissue to protect it from any chemical burns caused by abrasive acidic material slipping. 
4. Application: working on 2 teeth at a time, apply about 1 mm thickness of abrasive material on the discolored areas of the tooth surface. 
5. Scrubbing: rubbing the tooth surface with the slurry mixture of acid and pumice gently (at low speed), using a special silicon rubber cup, for about 60 seconds per application. 
6. Rinse and take off any remaining materials: rinse well with water and suction any abrasive material from the tooth surface.
7. Evaluate the case for any repeat;  if there are some remaining superficial stains, a selective microabrasion for teeth works well. 
8. Record the final photographs with the shade guide to detect the difference. 
9. Fluoride application: to overcome any possible postoperative sensitivity by closing any micro-pores with fluoride sealants. 

After buffing away the “bad” enamel, if any deep stains remain, A combination of abrosion (enamel microabrasion) with teeth whitening or ICON infiltration to get an ultimate result. It’s advisable to wait for about 2 weeks before shifting to restoration options to allow the enamel to stabilize and ensure the optimal shade and maximum enamel bonding.

When do I need microabrasion for teeth? 

Enamel microabrasion is not recommended for deep tooth discoloration and stains; it’s ideal for removing tiny and superficial stains, which can be present in the following cases: 

1. Shallow dental fluorosis: a teeth microabrasion used for fluorosis in mild to moderate cases where the tooth exhibits white, yellow, or light brown. Caused by excessive fluoride intake during teeth development.
2. Post-orthodontic treatment: if a patient neglects his oral hygiene routine during orthodontic treatment, plaque accumulation around brackets leads to decalcification patches. Microabrasion removes the defective outer layer, exposing a healthy one. 
3. Superficial Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH): microabrasion can be used to treat mild MIH in combination with remineralization agents to strengthen the enamel surface and improve esthetic results.
4. Localized Enamel hypoplasia: an enamel defect that is limited to specific areas in the form of pitted enamel or white or yellow stains on the enamel’s outer surface. 
5. Surface decalcification: stains formed due to acid accumulation that negatively affect the tooth surface, causing decalcification and white patches. 

Benefits of teeth micro-abrasion  

Enamel microabrasion offers multiple clinical advantages, making it a preferred choice for both dentists and patients. These benefits include: 

1. Conservative technique: it only works on the superficial 0.2 mm of enamel without causing over-reduction of the tooth structure. 
2. Painless: you don’t need any anesthetic application; it’s like brushing your teeth, but with a special abrasive toothpaste.
3. One-visit procedure: the procedure doesn’t take any time; the one application is for 60 seconds only. 
4. Fast permanent aesthetic result: within a few minutes, you can get a smooth and glossy tooth, reducing plaque accumulation. 

Is microabrasion safe for teeth?

Microabrasion is considered safe when used for cases with superficial stains, while it could have some disadvantages if used in a nonindicated case or improperly applied. such as: 

1. Deep stains, such as in amelogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta, severe fluorosis, and more cases; it can only remove stains in the superficial enamel surface, and its effect can’t get beyond that. 
2. Teeth sensitivity: it can cause sensitivity due to the removal of the thin layer of enamel, becoming a bit closer to the underlying sensitive layer, “dentin”.
3. Enamel thinning could happen with repeated applications, removing more of the tooth surfaces (approximately 250µm, 0.25mm, is the safety limit), showing the inner yellowish dentin layer, making teeth appear more yellow. 

How much does microabrasion cost for teeth?

The cost of teeth microabrasion in Turkey is reasonable compared to other teeth whitening or ICON infiltration. The cost changes according to the number of teeth affected and the severity of the stains, in addition to other clinic and dentist-related factors. 

While the cost of teeth microabrasion in the UK is from 300 to 400USD, you can get the same treatment with the same international quality at Suave Dental Clinic for less than 300USD, and you can also get a part of a cosmetic package. 

What if teeth microabrasion is in vain? 

In some cases, teeth microabrasion is not sufficient or not suitable for patients with deep stains inside the dentin, resulting from severe fluorosis and tetracycline stains, so dentists go for another alternative dental treatment or other suitable ones. Such as:

1. Teeth whitening: whatever, using home or office bleaching to whiten the dark-stained teeth surface and make teeth appear with a homogeneous surface with the same color.
   Enamel microabrasion removes spots but doesn’t necessarily change the base color of the whole smile. Dentists actually frequently combine microabrasion with standard teeth whitening to achieve the best overall aesthetic result.
2. ICON Resin Infiltration: When white lesions formed deeply, a resin material was used to infiltrate the enamel surface and fill these pores, decreasing the contrast between normal and defective areas, preventing initial tooth caries from breaking down the tooth. 
3. Teeth restorations: dental bonding materials and fillings like composite bonding restoration, full mouth veneers, or dental crowns to cover the whole tooth’s surface to mask the severe stains completely. 

Professional and clinical evidence shows that teeth microabrasion is applying the concept of minimally invasive dentistry with a more conservative approach than drill and fill.
When Enamel microabrasion is diagnosed correctly, it helps the tooth stay healthy, gives a noticeable enamel glaze, and increases the enamel bonding ability for further dental laminates.
One of the factors that contributes to the success of Enamel microabrasion as a cosmetic teeth correction is good oral hygiene. A meticulous patient, who keeps brushing and flossing daily, slows down the spread of dental caries and further loses enamel minerals.

If you have any white or surface stains, you should seek dental advice. A professional dentist can accurately evaluate and diagnose your stains to choose the suitable treatment for your case specifically, whatever it is: teeth microabrasion, resin infiltration ”ICON”, teeth whitening, or restoration. That’s what we care about at Suave Dental Clinic, the accurate diagnosis to ensure the most conservative solution to maintain your tooth structure.