Laser Cavity Detection

Diagnosing Tooth Decay Most Accurately!

Though you may not realize it, even the tiniest space of decay can prove to be trouble for your teeth.  That is why we take such care to accurately identify and then fill cavities-it's the key to prventing all kinds of problems in the long run.  In the past, identifying cavities required the use of a sharp instrument to poke and prod for "soft" or "sticky" areas of the tooth surface.  Unfortunately, even the most diligent of such methods of decay detection are only 50% to 75% accurate.  Cavities can hide along deep anatomical grooves or underneath biting surfaces. In addition, mechanical methods of diagnosis typically detect only those cavities that are equal to or larger than the tip of the instrument. 

For all these reasons, we've invested in DIAGNOdent, a revolutionary means of detecting cavities that allows your exam to be quick, easy, and without sensitivity, while giving us highly accurate and thorough information.

How It Works-Reflection and Revelation

DIAGNOdent technology inspects your teeth using a simple laser diode, comparing reflection wavelength to a known helathy baseline set to your own enamel, thus idnetifying decay.  The process is simple.  First, we direct the laser onto a healthy enamel surface to provide the baseline reading.  Then, we move the diode around your mouth, shining the laser into all suspect areas.  As the laser pulses into grooves and cracks, it reflects a specific wavelength of fluorescent light.  At the same time, this light is measured by receptors, converted to an audible signal, evaluated electronically, to reveal a value between 1 and 100, then displayed on a screen.  Whenever the laser encounters a discrepancy, between a tooth surface and the healthy baseline value, it stimulates emission of  a different fluorescent light wavelength.  A reading of 10-29 indicates that there has been some enamel "softening", pointing to a potential problem area that merits close monitoring.  A raeding of 30-100 indicates a definite area of decay requiring a restoration, or "filling".

A Timely Piece of Technology

DIAGNOdent technology provides us a tool for identifying decay with more thoroughness, timeliness, and accuracy.  Not only does it help prevent the spread of tooth decay, but it alloes us to treat your teeth more conservatively:  when we identify decay sooner, the necessary fillings are typically smaller and shallower, preserving more of the healthy tooth surrounding it.  Finally, we can easily and objectively monitor any suspicious areas.