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The Decaying Danger of “Hidden Cavities” |
New York, N.Y. — For years, dentists have been testing out the latest technological devices for ‘getting to the root’ of where cavities lie. Locating hidden decay before it destroys tooth structure is a major goal for dentists. Dr. Clifford Williams, a Manhattan cosmetic and restorative dentist, is an expert on various diagnostic equipment that show the true measurement of the amount of decay a patient has and how it can be prevented from spreading. As Dr. Williams states, "Dentists are going to great lengths to catch cavities at an early stage. Cavities often hide along fissure lines, or inside biting or occlusal surfaces. The result of the old method of detecting dental decay is that only the biggest cavities are found." What is most concerning to patients is having a dentist diagnose cavities that are hidden beneath the hard surface enamel. Early detection, in the surface of the enamel, will prevent diseases from spreading through microscopic abnormalities in the base of the hard tooth structure to underlying softer surfaces.
BENEFITS OF BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Detecting cavities has typically been done through X-rays and probing instruments, such as an explorer, but this only lets dentists see the decay that lies on the surface of the tooth. Fortunately, there have been rapid advancements in dental technology that allow for eliminating decay and dental disease in the early stages. As Dr. Williams explains, "The DIAGNOdent laser uses a small laser diode to inspect your teeth, comparing reflection wavelength against a known healthy baseline wavelength to uncover decay. The process is very simple. We begin by getting a reflection from a healthy tooth to give us a "no decay" reading. Next we examine the other teeth, aiming the laser at the surfaces of all of the teeth." This laser treatment provides a quick, comfortable and highly accurate diagnosis of any hidden decay that might be present and prevent the spread of disease before it destroys the tooth from inside.
Another safe and pain free device that is being used for detecting below surface level decay is the DIFOTIâ (Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic Trans-Illumination) mechanism. DIFOTIâ uses safe white light that creates high-resolution digital images of the entire tooth that can be magnified and reproduced for further examination. As Dr. Williams explains, "A high resolution image appears instantly, in real time, much like a video camera, on the computer monitor. A hygienist can place DIFOTI on one tooth and take an image in 3 seconds or take a full mouth set of images in a matter of minutes." In the long-term, patients will see a reduction in health-care costs as well as a cavity free mouth.
In addition to the above devices for detecting early dental decay, the Digital X-ray system takes a picture of the patient’s entire mouth and generates a digital image on the computer almost immediately following. Using software-enhancing programs, dentists are able to zoom in and focus on precise areas of the tooth cavity, without waiting for X-ray film to develop. As Dr. Williams states, "Since the dental Digital X-ray system is more sensitive than dental X-ray film systems, a patient’s exposure to X-rays is cut as much as 90 percent." Patients do not have to wait the standard 15 minutes for conventional X-ray film to be developed and the dentist can detect problem areas with greater precision and efficiency. "In my practice, I am able to detect cavities far better than with the old system, and sooner and smaller than ever before. In return, decay can be corrected sooner and easier, before it seriously weakens a tooth," Dr. Williams explains.