We can't cure what we can't see!

In keeping with our goal to provide the very best service and latest technology available, we are announcing the use of a new diagnostic instrument for the detection of cavities called Diagnodent.

If you cannot detect the disease, how can you treat it? A suspicious-looking tooth presents a treatment dilemna for dentists. Should the tooth be opened up? What if decay is not found? Should the tooth just be watched, or does that give the decay more time to destroy the tooth? The Diagnodent, approved by the FDA for the detection of beginning stages of early tooth decay, is a hand-held laser, similar to a laser pointer. The Diagnodent measures laser fluorescence within tooth structure. At the specific wavelength that the Diagnodent laser operates, clean healthy tooth structure exhibits little or no fluorescence, resulting in a very low scale reading on the Diagnodent display. A tooth with decay will exhibit fluorescence, proportional to the degree of decay, resulting in an elevated scale reading. Catching decay early means fillings required are simpler and shallower, preserving more of the tooth.

This procedure is provided as a service to our patients. The Diagnodent will be used in addition to radiographs (x-rays) for the diagnosis of cavities. Not every patient will require the use of this device – only areas that the hygienist or dentist has deemed suspicious of a possible cavity. This new “tool” is just another way of ensuring our patients optimum dental care.