Treatment decisions require a high degree of certainty

It's our goal to help you maintain or improve your oral health.  To that end, the care you receive in our office always includes state-of-the-art technologies. Among these is a small laser instrument, called the DiagnoDent, that scans your teeth with harmless laser light searching for hidden decay.

The widespread use of fluoride has made tooth surfaces more resistant to decay. However, diagnosing cavities beneath these surfaces is more challenging than ever because bacteria that have penetrated microscopic defects in the enamel ae not easily detected with conventional diagnostic methods.

X-rays and probes cannot detect these cavities in the earliest stage of development, leaving decay to spread throughout the softer tooth structure deep beneath the intact surface.  The DiagnoDent is a major breakthrough that allows our Team to monitor these areas.  If there is decay present, we can identify and treat it before it has had a chance to destroy the tooth from within.  The DiagnoDent eliminates the guesswork and enables us to confirm the presence of healthy tooth structure as well, before the placement of sealants.  

This unique instrument provides instant feedback relating to the health of the tooth.  A pen-like fiberoptic probe simply glides over the tooth surface constantly checking for decay.  An audible alarm tells us when there are signs of hidden decay with technology that is accurate, safe and comfortable. Our patients have been enthusiastically supportive of our use of this instrument that we incorporated into our practice back in the year 2000, when it first became available to the profession.

An ounce of prevention.....

This is one situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  We encourage regular dental health visits, because early detection of problems minimizes needed treatment and its cost. New technologies like the DiagnoDent take us a giant step forward to helping you achieve the goals of minimally invasive dentistry.

• Accurate - Once clear advantage of the DiagnoDent is that it is accurate.  It detects cavities that direct vision (even with magnification, an explorer, and x-rays)  fail to identify.  
• Conservative - There is no longer any need to jam a steel explorer into a tooth.  
• Smart - There is no physical probing that could inadvertently spreadharmful bacteria to otherwise healthy teeth.
• Minimally invasive - The risk of over-treatment is eliminated.
• Cost effective - Some teeth are monitored, while others receive sealants, but when a specific threshold is reached with the DiagnoDent, an invisible filling is placed.
• Insurance reimbursable - Third-party payers (insurance companies) recognize the value of early intervention and pay benefits because it is cost-effective for them, as well.
• Quantifiable - The instrument measures the extent of the decay.  
• Safe - The DiagnoDent uses the power of light, posing no danger to our team or our patients.
• Comfortable - Patients are completely unaware of the non-invasive beam of light that probes for decay.
• Easy to use - As an added benefit, our patients are able to participate in the diagnosis.
• Empowering- Patients understand the decay process, the diagnostic process, and the wisdom of conservative care.

Your investment in oral health

Please feel free to ask a member of our team if you have any questions regarding our use of the DiagnoDent Laser Scanner Cavity Detection Device. Before beginning any procedure, we want you to be familiar with every aspect of your care and to be comfortable with your decision to give us your informed consent for treatment.