How Early can Tooth Decay be Detected?

ST. LOUIS, MO, March 31, 2011 (Press-News.org) Many people do not worry about tooth decay until they are told they have a dental cavity, possibly thinking that cavities are difficult to prevent and cannot be detected until they are causing pain. However, the opposite is actually true. Cavities and tooth decay may be detected before much damage has affected the tooth, and new dental technology called DIAGNOdent is making early detection even easier than traditional cavity detection.

The Dental Explorer vs. DIAGNOdent

In traditional general dentistry a cavity may be detected by pressing the pointed end of a dental explorer, a hook-shaped metal pick, into the center or side of a tooth to test for softness or stickiness. Dentists may also use X-rays to check teeth for internal structure damage by looking for white spots on the X-ray film. However, the first of these methods can cause severe discomfort, and neither is infallible in determining the presence of cavities.

The traditional way to deal with cavities is to find them when they are large enough to be detected with the eye-and-dental-explorer method and then treat them with dental cleanings and fillings. But DIAGNOdent is a new dental device that allows general dentistry professionals to check for density inconsistencies in your teeth simply by shining a light against their surfaces. Gone are the days of poking and prodding at sensitive teeth with a dental explorer. Now your teeth can be checked for cavities without dental picks or discomfort.

How DIAGNOdent Works

DIAGNOdent uses an innovative light wave system that checks the level of fluorescence reflected off of a tooth. Based on the increase or decrease of the fluorescence, DIAGNOdent rates tooth decay on a numeric scale to indicate the level of damage. Based on this rating system, general dentistry professionals can determine the best course of treatment and the level of danger to the affected tooth.

The end of the DIAGNOdent tube is simply rested against the tooth and rocked slightly from side to side to take readings of the tooth health. Although the process takes a little longer than the traditional method for checking for cavities, DIAGNOdent can identify problem areas much smaller than those detectable by the naked human eye and dental explorer pick. DIAGNOdent can also help prevent costly treatment by addressing cavities early and preventing advanced decay and tooth damage.

To learn more about DIAGNOdent and cavity care, please visit the website of Missouri general dentist Dr. Kirk Quigless today, welcoming patients from Saint Louis, Belleville, and Brentwood, Missouri.

Website: http://www.smilepictureperfect.com/dr-quigless.html