Developed by world renowned dental equipment producer Kavo, the DIAGNOdent system is the world's most advanced system for detecting the dental disease known as caries, which is progressive deterioration of the dental bone. Dentists are often nervous when attempting to diagnose caries. A suspicious looking tooth provides a treatment dilemma for dentists. Should the tooth be opened up? Should it be removed completely?

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.

How can the DIAGNOdent laser help detect cavities/caries?

Altered tooth substances and bacteria fluoresce when they are exposed to a specific wavelength of light. The DIAGNOdent operates at a wavelength of 655 nm. At this specific wavelength, clean healthy tooth structure exhibits little or no fluorescence, resulting in very low scale readings on the display. However, carious tooth structure will exhibit fluorescence, proportionate to the degree of caries, resulting in elevated scale readings on the display of the DIAGNOdent.

How does it really work?

DIAGNOdent technology uses a laser diode to inspect the patient's teeth. It compares reflection wavelength against a healthy baseline wavelength to uncover tooth decay. The benchmark reading is taken by aiming the laser onto a healthy enamel tooth surface and then the laser is directed into all suspected infection areas.

An audio signal allows the operator to hear changes in the scale values. This enables the focus to be on the patient, not solely on the device. Using wavelength comparison, dentists can determine whether or not a patient's tooth is healthy enough.

How the DIAGNOdent system works:

1. Dentist places the DIAGNOdent laser into patient's suspected infected tooth. Then fluorescent light will either reflect back through the laser, revealing a caried tooth; or there will be no reflection whatsoever, indicating the patient's tooth is healthy and viable.

2. An audio signal will notify the dentist whether or not the tooth is infected, exhibiting a higher scale sound if the tooth is infected and vice versa.