DIAGNOdent Pen
Detecting the invisible
If you cannot detect the disease, how can you treat it? Dentists often experience anxiety when attempting to diagnose the phenomenon known as hidden caries. A suspicious-looking tooth presents a treatment dilemma for dentists. Should the tooth be opened up? What if no caries is found? Should the tooth just be watched, or does that give caries more time to destroy the tooth's surface?
A changing caries model: due to floridation, caries has gone "underground". While helping to improve the oral health of many Americans, fluoridation has resulted in harder tooth enamel. Incipient caries lesions that once began on the tooth's surface have no migrated below the surface.
Proven clinical results: Treatment decisions require a higher degree of certainty. The DIAGNOdent laser caries detection aid removes the doubt from treatment decisions regarding hidden caries ore questionable stained grooves. The device's ability to see into occlusal pits and fissures enables dentists to treat sub-surface caries lesions with confidence.
Benefits to you, your hygienist and your patients
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Accurate: Over 90% accurate in detecting lesions not detectable with an explorer or bitewing X-rays.
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Conservative: Prevents exploratory excavation or under-treatment of suspect teeth.
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Quantifiable: Precise, reliable measurement allows objective monitoring of caries activity over time.
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Confidence builder: Allows dentists and hygienists to treat questionable sites and su-surface caries with confidence.
- Empowering: Allows hygienists to educate patients on caries disease process.
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Marketing tool: High patient acceptance, great for marketing your practice and treatment philosophies. Interactivity engages patients in examination process.
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Easy to use: Compact, portable device with user-friendly design.
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Safe: Uses light energy-no X-ray exposure. Poses no danger to staff and patients. Painless, non-invasive examination by patients.
Over 90% accurate
Proportion of "correct diagnoses" using various diagnostic methods (in the case of seemingly intact occlusal surfaces).
In a study conducted by Dr. Lussi of Berne University, Switzerland, general practitioners correctly diagnosed hidden fissure areas by visual inspection in only 57% of all cases. The same group achieved an impressive success rate of 90% with the DIAGNOdent. In fact, DIAGNOdent was far more accurate than any other method in the study including bitewing X-rays.
Teeth with dentin caries and intact occlusal surface. Source: Lussi et al, Quintessenz 54, 10 2003