Use of laser fluorescence device 'DIAGNODent(R)' for detecting caries

Lee,  Byoung-Jin

doi:2011.49.8.461

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 49(8); 2011 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2011;49(8):461-471.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2011.49.8.004 Published online August 31, 2011.

레이저 우식진단기기 'DIAGNODent(R)'의 활용

이병진

조선대학교 치의학전문대학원 예방치학교실

Use of laser fluorescence device 'DIAGNODent(R)' for detecting caries

Byoung-Jin Lee

Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Chosun University

Abstract

The detection of carious lesions is a key point to apply appropriate preventive measures or operative treatment of dental caries. A laser fluorescence device DIAGNOdent(R) (KaVo, Biberach, Germany) has also been shown to be of additional clinical value in the detection of initial caries. This report focus on the DIAGNOdent(R) for caries detection. DIAGNOdent(R) irradiate visible red light at a wavelength of 655 nm to elicit near-infrared fluorescence from caries lesion. This device is known as a reproducible method for caries detection, with good sensitivity and specificity especially for caries detection on occlusal and accessible smooth surfaces. DIAGNOdent(R) tended to be more sensitive method of detecting occlusal dentinal caries, however, showed more false-positive diagnoses than the visual inspection. So Clinician should not use the device as a clinician's primary diagnostic method and it is recommended that the device should be used in the decision-making process in relation to the diagnosis of caries as a second opinion in cases of doubt after visual inspection. The trend of modern dentistry would be a preventive approach rather than invasive treatment of the disease. This is possible only with early detection and respective preventive measures, DIAGNOdent(R) can help the changes.

Key Words: caries prevention;dental caries;DIAGNOdent;diagnosis;laser fluorescence;sensitivity and specificity;