Patients receiving regular dental care will typically get
x-rays once a year. These annual x-rays are an important diagnostic
tool. They show cavities forming long before the naked
eye can detect them, allowing dental professionals to treat them before the
patient experiences pain or loses the tooth involved. We are excited to offer a revolutionary alternative to x-rays at our dental office - the CariVu. Read on to see what we love about it!
The Benefits of Cavity Detection
Tooth decay left untreated for too long can
lead to difficulties eating, infection or tooth loss. Cavities can occur
on the sides or biting surfaces of the teeth and can spread from tooth to tooth
if left alone.
Current Tooth Decay Detection Methods
For years, dentists have relied upon visual inspections and
x-rays to locate and diagnose cavities. While these methods are
beneficial, they also have drawbacks. Cavities found during visual inspections are fairly advanced and may be more complicated to fill. X-rays can detect
tooth decay earlier, but are unable to detect cavities on the biting surface of
the tooth.
In addition, some patients need to avoid x-ray exposure. Although the newer digital x-ray machines put out very little
radiation, pregnant women or patients coping with certain illnesses may need to completely avoid exposure - that's now possible with CariVu!
The Newest Method of Detecting Cavities
A new technology, which we're proud to offer our patients, makes it possible to detect cavities earlier
and without exposure to radiation. The CariVu by DEXIS is a portable, powerful
device that detects cavities using illumination. The CariVu works by hugging
each tooth and bathing it in infrared light. This makes the tooth enamel
appear transparent while areas of decay absorb the light and appear darker. In
many cases, the CariVu can diagnose cavities before they are seen on x-ray
images.This illumination provides us with an exact picture of the tooth’s structure and the shape and structure of the cavity, allowing it to be filled with greater accuracy. When combined with x-rays and visual assessment, the CariVu images provide us with a complete picture of your oral health.
For patients needing to avoid radiation, the CariVu enables
us to detect cavities and prevent them from becoming worse. Even if
no cavities are detected we can use the images
to recommend preventative care options.
How We Use CariVu
At our office in New York, the CariVu is an important tool
for providing our patients with the best dental care possible. We're excited to offer it both
as an alternative to x-rays for patients who need to avoid radiation and as an
additional diagnostic tool for patients with areas we suspect may have tooth decay
that isn’t appearing on the x-rays. We use it as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to ensure each of our patients has the best possible oral health. Give us
a call for more information.
