A revolution is taking place in the field of dental diagnostics and a laser beam is leading the way.

Detecting the Invisible

Due to floridation, cavities have gone "underground."  While helping to improve the oral health of many Americans, fluoridation has resulted in harder tooth enamel.  Early decay that once began on the tooth's surface has now migrated to the softer tooth structure below.

Dentists often experience anxiety when attempting to diagnose the phenomenon known as hidden caries (decay).  A suspicious-looking tooth presents a treatment dilemma for dentists.  Should the tooth be opened up?  What if no decay is found?  Should the tooth just be watched, or does that give decay more time to destroy the tooth's surface?

Research has shown that traditional explorer or “pick” examinations of the biting surfaces of teeth fail to detect decay as much as 76% of the time.  Even the new enhanced digital X-rays may not show decay on this surface either, because the high density of the enamel obscures the view.

The Diagnostic Solution

Enter the DIAGNOdent, a compact diode laser designed to identify areas of tooth decay that traditional methods of detection miss.  Engineered in Germany, the DIAGNOdent represents a quantum leap in our ability to diagnose hidden dental disease.

The DIAGNOdent laser caries detection aid removes the doubt from treatment decisions regarding hidden decay or questionable stained grooves.  The device's ability to see into surface pits and grooves enables dentists to treat "underground" cavities with confidence.

Fast, Safe & Accurate

After a quick calibration, the device is aimed into the pits, grooves and fissures of the tooth, shining a cool laser beam into the tooth, to a depth of 2 to 2.5 mm.  The laser light reflected out of the tooth is measured by receptors in the handpiece.  The DIAGNOdent then displays, on an LCD panel, a number from 1 to 99, indicating, with better than 90% accuracy, the presence or absence of decay. 

This early detection system means that decay can often be removed by air abrasion or other painless methods, without the need for anesthesia or invasive drilling.  For most patients, identifying tooth decay was often a process that didn’t happen until the decay had spread significantly, resulting in deep fillings and the need for anesthesia.

But now, thanks to the DIAGNOdent, dental diagnostic techniques are out of the Dark Ages and into the laser light!