Laser Decay Detection

I use a special low powered laser “pointer” to help find decay before it becomes visible on x-rays. It is totally painless, and takes about a minute during the examination appointment to check for cavities. I use it in addition to the usual x-ray examination. This technology has existed about three years.

A generation or two of patients with fluoride exposure has been a very good thing. Fluoride makes the enamel harder than it otherwise would be. This makes the old-time method of sticking an explorer into the grooves of the back teeth and seeing if it “pings” when I pull it out not reliable anymore. I very often find teeth, which have no visible decay on x-rays, and won’t “stick” an explorer are absolutely hollow due to internal decay!

My “diagnodent” finds these lesions accurately before x-rays can reveal them. And allows me to remove the decay long before it gets into the nerve. I use it at every semi-annual exam along with the x-ray films. The x-rays only accurately detect decay in-between the teeth.  I don’t “watch” decay anymore until your next appointment.  I determine accurately whether it is there or not, and I fix it right away and conserve your tooth structure.