New Laser Technology Detects Hidden Tooth Decay

One of the most basic and important procedures dentists perform is to diagnose tooth decay. Dentists have traditionally used x-rays and the dental pick called an explorer to find dental cavities. When cavities grow into the outer enamel layer, decay grows equally in depth and width. The dentist would place the tip of the explorer into the soft cavity and it would stick. This was true until fluoride was introduced into our toothpastes, vitamin supplements, and into the water supply. Fluoride changed the shape of tooth decay and made it more difficult to detect. When fluoride washes onto tooth enamel, the fluoride ion replaces the hydrogen ion in the enamel hydroxyapatite crystals making the outer enamel less vulnerable to decay. However, the decay producing bacteria is present everywhere in the mouth and hides in the small grooves and pits in the chewing surfaces of the teeth where the fluoride ions cannot penetrate well. The decay in the pits and grooves grow through the enamel to the more sensitive, less hard dentin layer. The width of the dental explorer is too wide to fit into the narrow grooves and pits of the teeth and the cavities go undetected. Dental x-rays do not clearly show if these cavities are present also. So how does the dentist detect these cavities? The answer is the new diagnostic laser called the DIAGNOdent. The DIAGNOdent bounces a beam of laser light into the groove or pit which is absorbed by the bacteria and decay. The returning light is picked up by the laser tip which is interpreted by the DIAGNOdent giving a numerical score on the digital screen and is heard as an audible beeping sound telling the dentist that decay is present. It also tells the dentist how deep the cavity is. For the first time, using this new revolutionary technology, dentists are able to detect tooth decay with close to 100% accuracy. Dr. Mashhood was one the first dentists to use the DIAGNOdent to detect hidden cavities on a daily basis. The DIAGNOdent laser allows us to detect more areas of decay sooner and with greater precision. It is a comfortable and painless procedure. It requires NO X-RAYS. Further, early detection means that the cavities are small and can be treated painlessly with minimally invasive procedures such as with AIR MICROABRASION. The DIAGNOdent laser finds cavities years before they would otherwise be detected. When decay is removed when it is small, a large amount of tooth structure is saved and is filled with small tooth colored fillings. Large fillings over time break down and later these teeth must be crowned or may need root canal treatment. The diagnostic laser reduces the need for large fillings and later the need for crowns and root canals! The DIAGNOdent Laser Cavity Detector is FDA approved. For more information, please contact Dr. Naomeh Mashhood’s dental office at (310) 289-1101.