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Saturday, August 31, 2019

White Spot Lesions

Do you ever notice your teeth looking milky and discolored? That’s a sign that enamel is under attack. We’ve seen a lot of tooth decay at the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, but we’ve also seen a lot of people who were able to protect themselves by catching it in time. This week’s blog post is dedicated to the teeth’s early warning system: white spot lesions.


When acid erodes enamel, the teeth will be demineralized of calcium and phosphate before large chunks of material dissolve. Demineralization can be recognized by white discoloration. It is commonly seen around orthodontic brackets and on the upper back molars of people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ordinarily, saliva neutralizes acid, but when a person is dehydrated or their saliva glands have been damaged, white spots are likelier to form. If the incipient lesion is not stopped, it may develop into a cavity.


Ordinary brushing and flossing is usually enough to stop the spread of an infection. But scarring is possible, and it only takes about thirty days for caries to develop. We can help a patient to determine whether a white spot represents an active infection. (Staining from excess fluoride can look similar.) Remineralization therapy is available to combat dental scars. White spots only develop on natural teeth, so patients also have to be attentive to brushing dentures and artificial crowns.


Frederick Shaw, DDS, operates the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at 1500 W 38th Street, Suite 34, Austin, Texas, 78731. To schedule an appointment, call 512-451-7491 or visit Frederick Shaw DDS and fill out a contact form.