Lasers, cutting-edge light technology, can now help find decay earlier than even before. Using laser fluoroscopy, the DIAGNODent from KaVo, can detect decay in the grooves and fissures of your teeth.
The KaVo DIAGNOdent (on right, vs. traditional
cavity detection with metal-tipped instrument, on left)
Traditionally, metal instruments were used to "feel" the hard enamel for soft spots of decay. Because decay at the surface of teeth starts as a microscopic break in the enamel and erodes the underlying tooth structure, traditional detection methods only revealed decay when significant tooth structure had already been lost. The laser can now go in to microscopic origins of decay, and identify decay early, before more of the tooth is lost to decay. With early detection, we can remove the decay with the most conservative methods and restore the tooth to health again (with both small and tooth-colored bonding).
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