Tooth restoration can become costly, especially if your teeth have severe damage. Fortunately, the use of DIAGNOdent™ laser has reduced tooth decay prevalence in recent years. Thanks to this innovation, dental specialists can help detect dental carries during their early stages. Patients can now have long-lasting healthy teeth and spend less on dental treatments.

There are many methods to detect tooth decay. However, one that stands out in early detection is the DIAGNOdent laser.

What Is DIAGNOdent Laser?

A DIAGNOdent laser is a tool used to examine the teeth for early detection of decay. It uses a fluorescent laser that effectively spots even the tiny lesions at their early stages. The cavities spotted by the device can also become spotted by using other methods.

However, DIAGNOdent is more efficient. It is free of radiation or pain and is a non-invasive way of detecting decay. Therefore, it is suitable and safe for every patient.

Types of Tooth Decay

• Fissure and pit tooth decay - Caused by a worn enamel and occurs on the chewing surface of molars.
• Root decay - Often develops if you have a receding gumline. It is common when plaque collects between the teeth and gums.
• Smooth surface tooth decay - Occurs when plaque buildup or bacteria cause decay that eats off your enamel. 

Features of the DIAGNOdent Laser

Using the DIAGNOdent laser is painless and helps preserve your teeth as it is safe. It has features that help detect teeth with all types of carries. It does not entail scraping or probing but only uses its laser to scan by gliding over the surface of your teeth using its pen-like probe. 

Below are the key features of the device:

• Sterilizable
• Early detection
• Accurate
• Simple diagnosis

DIAGNOdent laser assures you of no hidden cavities in your teeth due to how accurate it is with its diagnosis. It also helps prevent future dental problems as it improves your oral health.

How DIAGNOdent Laser Works

DIAGNOdent has a pen-like probe that sends out a laser beam. The laser is painless and safe and operates in a 655nmm wavelength. It also quantifies the amount of the reflected light from the tooth by using a two-way optic. A tooth with a cavity will reflect more light than a healthy one. A tooth will look more fluorescent if it has a lot of carries. 

Early Detection Helps With Early Treatment

Treating tooth decay is a continuous process. Detecting the cavities helps you get early treatment and saves time and money. Unfortunately, treatment becomes more complex if you have more damage on your tooth surface.

According to a study, dentists used visual inspection in 57 percent of the cases to diagnose tooth cavities in teeth structures. The same group of specialists re-assessed the teeth using DIAGNOdent and managed to have a 90 percent success rate. The tool highlighted more accuracy than all other methods, even X-rays. It can identify demineralized parts of teeth or lesions during their early stages. As a result, it makes it possible to reverse caries before cavities develop.

For more about DIAGNOdent laser, call SmileOn Dentistry at (310) 822-0202 to reach our office in Marina Del Rey, California