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Diagnodent is a new technology able to detect the smallest pockets of tooth decay. This process is much more effective than previous methods, which often have great difficulty locating cavities that hide in the pits and grooves of molars in the back of your mouth. In the past, looking for cavities in the back of the mouth was typically done by X-rays or using a dental explorer—the metal tool we all have had a dentist probe our mouths with at some point in time. The problem with both X-rays and dental explorers is they simply cannot detect the very smallest of cavities that are too tiny for film to pick up and too miniscule for the eyes to see.
Diagnodent uses a laser to scan the teeth. This laser contains several wavelengths of light, one of which is fluorescent. Fluorescent light has a rather unique quality. It bounces off the cavity and goes back to the sensor, which then converts the data into a numeric readout. The larger the cavity, the higher the amount of decay is present in the tooth. If the Diagnodent laser finds an actual cavity, it also emits an audible sound.
Many people ask us why such sophisticated technology like Diagnodent had to be developed in the first place for the simple purpose of finding cavities. The answer may surprise you. Finding cavities is no longer simple. They are smaller than they used to be because of the way that fluoride has changed the nature of tooth enamel itself. Fluoride was originally introduced into municipal water supplies during the 20th century with the intention of hardening teeth and protecting them against cavities. While it was successful in protecting teeth against the larger cavities, smaller cavities are still able to form that can be much harder to find. If these cavities can gain a foothold, they can penetrate directly into the dentin layer and even into the pulp.
Diagnodent causes you no pain. If you are one of those people who simply cannot stand to have a metal dental probe in your mouth, you will definitely appreciate the advanced technology of a laser. The comfort zone offered by this technology is simply amazing, and makes going to the dentist a quick, simple, and painless experience.
Diagnodent is often used in conjunction with dental X-rays. X-rays are still very effective at finding cavities between teeth, around the gumline, and near the roots. However, they miss the smaller cavities on the surface many times. When the laser is used as a complement to dental X-rays, then even the most minute tooth decay can be detected and dealt with before it becomes a serious problem.
When decay is diagnosed in the very early stages, it can be treated with far less expense and with much less complicated treatment. Most early decay can be treated with air abrasion and micro-dentistry without having to drill into the tooth. The dental bonding agent used to treat the tooth after decay has been removed is also natural-looking in appearance and very resilient to further wear on the teeth and future decay.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services.
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