D-Carie Mini Decay Detection

Dr. Roberts’ is the first dental office in Cincinnati to offer the D-Carie exam.  This exam is used for those patients who chose or need to limit their exposure to x-rays.  This is especially nice for pregnant patients and for young children who cannot yet tolerate a dental film placed in their mouth.  The LED-based caries (cavity or decay) detection devise signals change in the tooth structure; it is not effected by bacteria that may reside in the pits and fissures of the teeth.  The D-Carie helps to diagnose decay in hard to detect early stages.  It is able to detect decay earlier than it can be detected clinically on an x-ray.  The probe of the D-Carie is placed on the tooth surface.  A gentle beeping sound, in combination with a green light that turns red, signals a problem area.  The patient can actually “hear the decay”.  The more rapid and intense the beeping sound is the more extensive the decay is.  X-rays are two-dimensional; decay seen on an x-ray may appear to be larger or smaller than it is.  Depending on the extent of the decay, the D-Carie aids in treatment planning.