DIAGNOdent
DIAGNOdent FAQ
DIAGNOdent is the revolutionary new way to find even the smallest areas of tooth decay. By using this new technology, Laguna View Family Dental is able to target and treat all of your small problem areas before they turn into larger issues that require more complicated procedures. We’ve taken our most frequently asked question about DIAGNOdent and have answered them below. If you still have any other questions about DIAGNOdent and the best ways to prevent tooth decay just contact us for more information.
Q: Does it hurt?
A: No! DIAGNOdent is completely painless. It’s energy level similar to that of a laser pointer, the laser beam is harmless to surrounding tissues.
Q: How does DIAGNOdent work?
A: DIAGNOdent is first calibrated to your unique tooth structure by scanning a cleaned tooth surface with a harmless laser beam. After calibration a team member will gently scan your teeth. A small countertop unit emits an audio signal and registers a digital read-out, which identifies cavities developing below the surface the higher the amount of fluorescence detected by the machine, the greater the degree of decay within the tooth.
Q: What are the shortcomings of the traditional dental techniques like probing and x-ray imaging?
A: Believe it or not, as much as 50% of tooth decay may go undetected by traditional dental methods of probing and other diagnostic techniques.
Q: How long has this technology been around?
A: While the device has been in use in Europe for several years, the FDA has recently approved the use of the cavity-detecting laser for use by dentists in the U.S.
Q: Where does most tooth decay start today?
A: Today most tooth decay starts in the hard-to-see valleys and canyon-like anatomy of the tooth surface.
Q: Why can’t traditional methods like x-rays see these pit and valley cavities?
A: Pit and valley cavities are traditionally the most difficult to detect using x-rays due to the direction the images are taken from. Images are taken from the side of the tooth, which essentially hides the cavity from the dentists view.
Q: If DIAGNOdent is good at finding pit and fissure cavities do I still need x-rays?
A: Yes, x-ray imaging is an indispensable diagnostic tool for dentistry. X-rays and DIAGNOdent complement each other. X-rays are good at finding cavities in between teeth and on the roots. DIAGNOdent is good at find cavities on the tooth’s biting surface.
Q: Why can’t traditional methods like the dental probe (pick) find these pit and valley cavities?
A: This type of decay can make diagnosis with traditional methods difficult because the outer tooth surface often appears to be intact and the probe may be too large to detect the cavity.
Digital X-rays
At Laguna View Family Dental we use Digital radiography (digital X-rays) it is a form of x-ray imaging, where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. Advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Also less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography.
Laser Dentistry
Q: What is laser therapy?
A: A laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow, intense beam of light energy which is not visible to the human eye. When laser light comes into contact with tissue, it causes a reaction. Lasers have been safely used in dentistry since the 1990s – they are safe and effective for a wide range of applications. In our office, we routinely use a soft tissue laser for a variety of dental procedures.
Q: Why do we use a laser for deep cleanings?
A: Gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss for adults, destroys gums and the bone that supports the teeth, potentially resulting in tooth loss. In our office, we use a soft tissue laser in conjunction with traditional methods to improve the health of your teeth and gums.
Soft tissue laser therapy presents many advantages. The laser disinfects the gum pocket, clearing out the disease-causing bacteria. The laser beam seals the blood vessels and nerve ending as it cuts away damaged tissue, so bleeding is minimal. Trauma is reduced, so most patients feel better and have less swelling or post-operative discomfort following treatment.
Q: What can laser therapy be used for?
A:
- Laser assisted periodontal therapy
- Smile improvements (gum sculpting): lengthens teeth due to oversized gingiva, improvement of the “gummy smile”
- Gingivectomy and gingivoplasty (gum corrections)
- Removal of oral lesions such as fibromas or papillomas
- Frenectomy (“tongue-tie” release) for orthodontic or periodontal indications
- Apthous Ulcer (“canker sore”) treatments
- Treatment of minor mouth and gum irritations
Q: What are the advantages of laser therapy?
A:
- Laser use has been proven to be safe and effective
- Laser treatments are more comfortable than treatment with conventional instruments
- Gum tissue may be removed without bleeding and swelling, reducing post-operative discomfort
- Lasers destroy bacteria during tissue removal
Intra-Oral Cameras
In order to continually provide our patients with the highest standard of dental care, we offer the most advanced dental technology available including the intraoral camera. An intraoral camera is a tiny video camera that looks very much like a pen.
Dr. Townsend will use this tiny, sterilized probe to capture detailed images of the inside of your mouth. We will then show you the images captured so you can see exactly what the doctor sees, as well as have a better understanding of the health of your teeth and gums. This state-of-the-art technology also enables us to maintain the most up-to-date records of your treatment.
Intraoral cameras are painless and allow patients to see problems with their teeth and/or gums including tarnished or corroded fillings, fractured teeth, decay, bleeding gums and plaque. With this technology at our fingertips, the Doctor and the patient are able to work together to determine the right treatment plan to restore their mouth to optimal health.
Caesy Education Videos
Utilizing Caesy, a DVD audio-visual system, the doctor and staff can explain in detail our many dental procedures. The program is filled with dental information about hygiene, sealants, orthodontics, implants, crowns, and cosmetic dentistry along with other dental procedures.