DIAGNOdent Diagnostic Laser

Dr. Cook was one of the first dentists in the United States to obtain the DIAGNOdent™ laser following its FDA approval in early 2000. It allows dentists for the first time to “see” beneath the surface of the tooth to determine if decay is present.

The DIAGNOdent™ laser emits a specific light wavelength and energy into the tooth. If there is decay, this energy is reflected back as fluorescent light. The instrument measures the florescence on a scale of 1 to 100. Low readings require no care, only monitoring, mid-level readings require preventive dental sealants, and higher readings require fillings or crowns. The highest readings increase the possibility of root canals or extractions if the decay is advanced.

Decay forms beneath the pits and fissures of the teeth. It often progresses deeper towards the nerve of the tooth before the dentist can detect it on the surface. A traditional explorer will only penetrate the harder surface enamel after it has weakened and caved in from the deeper decay. The DIAGNOdent™ will detect this subsurface decay before the surface caves in, often years earlier than with the sharp dental explorer alone.

Where is the decay? No visible defect or “stick” with the dental explorer in the hard, still intact, surface enamel. This decay is invisible to both the eye and a sharp explorer.

 

DIAGNOdent™ laser reading of 38 on the last molar.

 

Removal of 1 mm of enamel shows the internal enamel defects.
 

All enamel removed exposing the orange decay into deep dentin.

All decay removed even deeper into the dentin.

Side view showing ~ 3 mm deep cavity from decay that was invisible to your eye.

Tooth is restored with 3M’s Z250 composite restorative material.

Radiograph of same lowar molars that can not show the decay.

The DIAGNOdent™ dental diagnostic laser is painless, safe, reliable, and fast!