Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “US Market for Caries Detection Devices – 2016” report to their offering.
Caries is a disease that results in the disintegration of the crystalline structure of the tooth. There are several different methods of detecting caries. The most commonly used technology is Light Induced Fluorescence Technology (LIFT); it detects bacteria on the surface of the tooth by illuminating it with violet light.
They operate by shining a low-intensity laser or light-emitting diode (LED) light on to the tooth. Because bacteria in dentin infected by caries leave behind metabolic products such as Porphyrins, an exposed cavity illuminated by violet light will show a red fluorescence. The use of LIFTs has allowed practitioners to identify and monitor caries more effectively than before. It represents a significant improvement over more primitive methods such as bitewing digital radiography and visual identification of caries. Dental radiographs can detect interproximal lesions, but only after they have demineralised at least 50 per cent of the outer enamel shell. Visual examination looks at the surface of the tooth but most early lesions begin and grow beneath the tooth’s surface.
Companies mentioned
- Kavo
- Acteon
- Air Techniques
- Dexis
- Quantum Dental Technologies
- AdDent
- Dentlight
- MicroLux Transilluminator
