Blog Category: Intraoral Cameras

Top Reasons You Need Intraoral Cameras

What is an Intraoral Camera?

An intraoral camera is a small-sized camera used by dentists to take images of your teeth and gums. Intraoral cameras have rapidly increased over the years as it is beneficial in diagnosing dental problems like tooth decay and cracked teeth. The intraoral camera transmits real-time imagery for the patient and dentists to see. Intraoral cameras are a very important and powerful tool for dentists to possess. When you use an intraoral camera from Digital Doc, patients will visualize exactly what you’re trying to tell them. Intraoral cameras allow you to SEE MORE and DO MORE.

Benefits of Intraoral Cameras

In today’s high-tech world, patients care about high-quality imagery. Luckily, Digital Doctor offers premium intraoral cameras with high-quality results. We highly recommend making the investment and upgrading to our IRIS X80 Liquid Lens Auto-focus Intraoral Camera, our newest intraoral camera. Here are some of the top reasons you need intraoral cameras in your practice:

Better patient education and dentist-patient communication: With the help of Digital Doc intraoral cameras, patients can see the inside of their mouth like never before. This makes it very easy for doctors to help patients understand what oral health problems they may have. Once they’ve seen the problem first-hand, the patient will be more receptive to starting treatment. Communication between patient and doctor will improve greatly if you upgrade to one of Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras.
Improve diagnoses: Some parts of the teeth, like soft tissue lesions and caries, are challenging to see without the right equipment. Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras allow you to SEE MORE and DO MORE. With the help of advanced intraoral cameras, like the IRIS X80 Liquid Lens Auto-focus intraoral camera, you can accurately diagnose the patient in real-time. At the end of the day, you’ll both save time and money.
Easier insurance claims: Insurance claims can be a complicated process. Sometimes, patients will need evidence to get their treatment covered, and x-rays may not be enough. Without proper evidence, treatment will be postponed. You won’t have this problem when you choose a Digital Doc’s intraoral camera.

What to Look for When Buying an intraoral camera

Digital Doctor provides intraoral cameras suited to all your needs. When you go out to buy an intraoral camera, you’ll need to keep the following in mind:

Excellent image quality: The main purpose of an intraoral camera is to get high-quality images. So, you need to make sure the intraoral camera you choose has the right image resolution you need. You can count on Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras to produce high-quality images that can be displayed on flat screens in your dental office.
A good light source: You need to make sure that the device has a light source that is resistant to scratches and liquids. Make sure you choose an intraoral camera with a light bright enough to get quality images of the patient’s teeth and gums. With the IRIS X80, you won’t have to worry about scratches or low lighting because of its high-performance impact and chemical resistant seamless body mold.
Technical service: It is imperative that you choose the right intraoral camera provider. Look for a company that maintains a high quality of professionalism, after-sales service, and excellent overall experience. Digital Doc has 20 years of experience in the market. We don’t just hand you a camera and say good luck. When you choose an intraoral camera with Digital Doc, you get customer service of a company that answers every phone call live. We will not only provide you with the best intraoral cameras on the market but also provide you with a dedicated tech support team.

Now that you’ve read the top reasons you need intraoral cameras, you can schedule a free virtual demo with our Digital Doc team. For more information, please contact us.

Do HD Cameras Matter to Patients?

Are you putting off investing in HD cameras for your practice because you think that they may not be of great value to your patients? What if you polled the next 100 patients that came into your practice and asked them how big of a television what watched at home? If more than 70% said, HD would it help your decision to upgrade your televisions in your operatories to 55” TV’s and invest in IRIS HD? In this article, you’ll discover how your patients can benefit when you start using HD cameras, such as the IRIS HD Intraoral cameras, at your dental office.

Patient Education is Easier

The superior image quality of HD cameras like the IRIS HD USB 3.0 gives you an important tool to use during patient education. For example, you can print out the HD image and circle the areas showing the cavities in the teeth of the patient. This clarifies to the patient the magnitude of the problem and leads them to accept the treatment that you want to provide.

If the patient cannot make decisions on their own about the treatment, you can let them take the printed images home so they can discuss treatment with their loved ones.

Alternatively, you can beam the images on a video screen inside the operatory. These HD images taken using your IRIS Intraoral Camera for Mac or the IRIS HD USB 3.0 will loom large on the screen and put the point across that immediate treatment is necessary.

Processing Insurance Claims is Easier

Getting insurance claims accepted in a timely manner is another benefit. You can even get reimbursed for Images taken. Use the following: IO Camera code D0350 and D0600 for any transillumination images. We had a dental practice receive over $1,800 in insurance reimbursement for IO camera images alone in five months.

The situation is much different when the insurance claims include HD images taken by IRIS HD 3.0 Dental Camera or the xtg2go handheld x-ray. The images make a strong case and expedite the successful processing of that claim.

They Portray a Positive Image of Your Practice

The dental technology you have in your office can influence whether a patient stays with you or finds dental services elsewhere. For example, when patients see that the equipment you use to conduct diagnostic tests is very old, they may wonder whether it is still safe and they will switch to dental practices or doctors’ offices with newer equipment.

When you upgrade to IRIS Intraoral cameras, your patients see your practice as one which keeps with the times and utilizes the latest technology. This positive impression takes on an even greater role in patient recruitment and retention when you show those patients how that technology helps you to provide better care to them. As you know, happy patients and caregivers translate into benefits on your bottom line.

As you can see, HD cameras do have many patient-side benefits which you shouldn’t fail to harness. Those benefits will then be magnified by the benefits on your side as a dental care provider, such as smoothening workflows and expediting diagnosis. So, what are you waiting for to upgrade to HD cameras?

IRIS X80 Intraoral Camera

We are thrilled to introduce X80, liquid lens autofocus HD camera. This camera is plug and play. No training needed. The liquid lens goes from Full Face to Macro and stops on a dime. We live in an HD world today and believe patients know the difference between SD and HD, then expect it. We expect to deliver industry-leading products that improves efficiency and case acceptance. We call it SEE More. DO More

Liquid Lens Auto Focus

The IRIS X80 intraoral camera comes with a Liquid Lens Auto Focus capability that means that you or your dental assistants will no longer have to press any buttons to focus the camera before capturing an image. The autofocus feature takes care of all this. All you have to do is press the capture button to have crisp, clear images of your patients’ dental structures. This is made possible by an internal computer that monitors the image that you would like to capture, and this internal computer adjusts the focus automatically whether you would like an image of a micro area or a wide-angle version.

Dual Capture Buttons

The fact that most people are right-handed has caused left-handed users a lot of grief because they have been compelled to adapt to using tools that aren’t designed with them in mind. You won’t have to worry about this thanks to the IRIS X80 intraoral camera. This exciting new digital camera comes with a capture button on either side so that you or your staff can use the button which corresponds to their preferred hand for performing such tasks. For those who are comfortable using both hands, the IRIS X80 now allows you to alternate the side you use to engage the capture button!

Ease of Use

Digital intraoral cameras just got a whole lot easier to use with the introduction of the IRIS X80. Users simply take the camera out of its box, plug it in and start capturing images right away! No need to tinker with multiple settings or read through a whole manual. This ease of use is a true time-saver in a busy dental office.

Impact and Chemical Resistant Body

Digital Doc is familiar with the different chemicals and chemical cleaners used in dental offices, as well as the likelihood that equipment will bump against surfaces from time to time. For this reason, the IRIS X80 intraoral camera has been designed to be highly resistant to impact and chemicals. Additionally, the body is seamless, further protecting the internal components from exposure to body fluids (blood and saliva, for example) and cleaning solutions. You can, therefore, be sure that your new IRIS X80 dental camera will serve you for years to come without easily succumbing to the effects of accidental bumps or chemical intrusion.

USB 2.0 Compatibility

The IRIS X80 intraoral camera will not require you to modify your present setup of the operatory, nor will it require you to buy any additional accessories so that you can use it. This new camera can be used with the standard USB 2.0 protocol so that it will fit seamlessly into your workflow.

The IRIS X80 comes with a load of other great features which you can experience for yourself by scheduling an in-office or virtual demonstration with us at Digital Doc. With the IRIS X80 intraoral camera, you will be able to SEE MORE and DO MORE!

Portable Dental X-Rays Basic Training

There are so many benefits to portable dental x-rays. Once you’ve decided to upgrade your traditional x-ray machine to an XTG Handheld X-ray, you’ll need to learn how to use it.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray device can capture 150 images a day, and these are more than a typical office will need, so there is no need to worry about the charge on the battery. Use the following steps to get started with your new device so that you enjoy faster setup, better quality images, and reduced radiation exposure of your patients.

Powering Up Your Handheld X-Ray

Take the tower port on the USB cable and plug it into a port on the XTG device. Next, press the power “On” button to activate the unit. The display will show you the status of the battery charge and the current tooth image option you can capture immediately. The settings could indicate “Adult” or “Pedo.”

Selecting/Saving Image Settings

The “S” button on the unit changes the tooth settings to what you require. To make any changes. Press the up or down button next to the “S” button to adjust the exposure setting. Press the “S” button and hold it down for 2 seconds to save the current settings shown on the device’s display screen. For example, the screen may be indicating “Adult,” and you want to save these settings used to capture images of adults. To do this, press down the “S” button for two seconds and the “ready” light will turn on to confirm that you have saved the settings. These saved settings now form part of your preset settings that you can quickly access.

To change from the adult to pediatric settings, touch the “S” button and press it, so it stays down. Next, touch the power button and then touch the “S” button again. The display will change to “pedo,” and you can take x-rays of kids.

To keep it in the pedo position, touch the power button, then the “S” button and the x-ray will show the green ready light.

Switching to Another Preset Setting

To turn back to the adult settings, hold the “S” button down again, touch the power off button, touch the “S” button again and you will be taken back to the adult settings. And that really is all you need in terms of setting up your brand new XTG Handheld X-Ray unit.

Taking X-Ray Images

To capture an exposure, use your right hand to hold the XTG so that it rests in the palm of that hand. Keep your first finger protruding to the front of the device. The exposure button is right there at the right-hand corner at the front. Now move the hand holding the device away from your body so that you don’t feel the weight of the XTG Handheld X-Ray unit. You can take all x-rays using just one hand because the strap over your shoulder balances out the weight. Now point the device, then touch and hold down the exposure button. You will hear three beeps, and the device screen will go back to green showing that you are ready to take another image if you want to.

That is a summary of all you need to use your xray2go. For more detailed instructions on how to set up and use the XTG, search YouTube for XTG by Digital Doc, and you will find an 11-minute instructional video to give you a more in-depth explanation of the steps in this blog post.

HD Quality Dental Images with Dr. Delwin Hemingway

HD Quality Dental Images with Dr. Delwin R. Hemingway

We recently spoke with Dr. Delwin R. Hemingway about his experience with intraoral cameras. Dr. Hemingway has been in the dental industry for over forty years now. His experience goes way beyond the average dentist. He started out as a dental lab technician and eventually became the successful dentist he is today. Throughout his journey, Dr. Hemingway was an associate dentist, a partner in a group practice, the owner and CEO of a large practice which employs several dentists, and a Fortune Executive Coach. Dr. Hemingway has earned the “Best Designed Dental Practice of the Year in 2006” and “Best Integration of Technology into a Dental Practice in America in 2006.” What’s his secret? His ability to provide quality care to his patients using the latest dental technology.

The Best Investment For Your Dental Practice

Dr. Hemingway’s best return he’s ever made was on an intraoral camera. He started using his first intraoral camera back in 1988 when DentaCam first came out. Today, Dr. Hemingway says, “The state-of-the-art intraoral camera is the IRIS intraoral camera from Digital Doc. We use it every day on almost every patient. We have eight operatories. We have one of these in every operatory so you don’t have to go find it, you don’t have to wait for it, you can pick up the camera and take your pictures. I find this as one of the best, if not the best, source for showing patients what’s going on. They understand what needs to be done. I couldn’t practice dentistry without an intraoral camera and IRIS gives me the clarity in the image that I’m looking for.” Dr. Hemingway continues to provide the best patient care using Digital Doc’s IRIS intraoral camera. For questions about our IRIS intraoral camera or any other Digi Doc products, contact us today to schedule a FREE demo!

3 Essentials for Successful X-Ray Acquisition

X-ray images play a big role in any dental office as dental healthcare practitioners look for caries, impacted teeth, cysts, gum disease or any other dental anomaly. The best x-ray images are produced by the most appropriate x-ray equipment for your dental office. You should, therefore, consider the following factors as you shop for a replacement or additional x-ray machine for your dental office.

Patient Comfort

It can be nearly impossible for you to capture x-ray images of high quality if your patient isn’t comfortable while you take those images. Your first step in the quest for high-quality x-ray images is therefore to find x-ray equipment that will ensure the highest level of patient comfort.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray, also known as the Xray2go, is one piece of equipment that will address your concerns about patient comfort while radiographic images are captured.

This device allows you to get the x-ray images you want while the patient is sitting in the dental chair. The patient is comfortable because they are in a familiar room with a familiar person (you). The patient will remain relaxed while you capture all the different images you need to make an accurate diagnosis.

Equipment Quality

As you may know, any craftsman is often as good as the tools that he or she uses. The same applies to dental health professionals. You cannot expect to capture high-quality images using poor quality equipment.

So, you should be on the lookout for high-quality equipment as you shop for new x-ray equipment for your dental office. Consider manufacturers who have a history of availing reliable equipment that can serve for the stipulated service life without a drop in the quality of the images captured.

The Xray2go is one of the portable x-ray machines that will attract your attention when you rank the different pieces of equipment on the market in terms of their quality. This portable x-ray will come in handy to confirm any suspicions that you may have after viewing a patient’s oral structures with the help of the LUM sub-enamel illumination device.

While you evaluate the x-ray equipment quality, don’t forget to assess how many images you need to take each day so that what you buy can cope with that load. For example, the XTG Handheld X-Ray can capture at least 150 images before the battery power drops and you have to recharge it. This capacity is more than sufficient for most dental offices, so the x-ray can work all day and be recharged at night.

Workflow Optimization

Dentistry has progressed to a level where dental care professionals don’t have the luxury to take days or weeks before giving a patient diagnosis or even performing the necessary procedure. For example, same-day dental restorations (crowns, for example) are becoming the norm due to the availability of modern equipment.

You should consider how the x-ray equipment will ease or complicate the workflow at your dental office before you procure that equipment. Confirm that the software upon which the equipment you want to buy operates can be integrated with your patient management system.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray is superb in this regard because it can easily export the images captured to the digital patient files. All this is possible due to the compatibility of this equipment’s software with nearly all patient management systems available.

As you can see, the process of acquiring x-ray equipment for your dental office should be systematic so that you will be in a position to weed out the equipment that isn’t suited to the specific needs of your dental office. You can further smoothen the acquisition process by involving the supplier as early as possible so that the transition can be properly planned. Be sure to train your staff on how to use the new x-ray equipment, as well as any complementary technology like the LUM sub-enamel illumination device.

The Remarkable Story of Dr. Tuyen Nguyen

When you visit Dr. Tuyen Nguyen’s state-of-the-art dental practice in Rush City, Minnesota, you cannot help but be inspired by his story. Dr. Nguyen migrated from Vietnam to start his version of The American Dream. Dr. Nguyen’s story inspires anyone to believe that if they dream big, put in long hours of work and never give up, they too can live the life they’ve always hoped for.

Born towards the end of the Vietnam War, Dr. Nguyen, grew up when the Communists took over the country. They rigorously enforced their system upon the people and punished anyone who got in their way. Any form of money or power was considered a sin. People went so far as to throw money in the river so that they could avoid being punished.

Dr. Nguyen came from a family who valued skills and education. His parents worked very hard to become schoolteachers to earn a good living. After the Communists took over, his parents were only making ends meet. To increase their income, Dr. Nguyen’s mom ran many businesses from their home. She purchased peanuts in bulk, processed them, added value, and then sold them. She did the same with other items like oil, sugar, and rice. Later, she started a sewing business to make clothing for exporting companies.

Dr. Nguyen helped out in the family businesses. But he was a determined young man who had the desire to better his circumstances in life. Dr. Nguyen rode a bicycle 20 miles three times a week in order to complete a preparatory course for a Vietnam college entrance exam. Later, he found out that he did not qualify to get into medical school. Dr. Nguyen did, however, get into a physician assistant program. After three long years of training, he qualified for a physician assistant job, which paid $25 a month. Dr. Nguyen could of qualified for a job that paid $50-100 a month if he went to medical school. He decided to go back to Biên Hòaorked to work for his mother’s at-home banking business. Dr. Nguyen told himself that he would one day board a plane and leave for a foreign country where he would get a better education.

His dreams of a better education finally became a reality when Dr. Nguyen found a way to migrate to the United States. He left Vietnam, traveled to the Philippines in 1992 and moved to the United States in 1993. He started his education in the U.S. at a community college. Dr. Nguyen considered nursing, teaching, business, and being a hygienist as possible career paths. Eventually, he decided he wanted to be an electrical technician. He made his way to Saint Paul College to gain the knowledge and skills he needed. Then one of his prime supporters convinced him that he was capable of doing more than engineering. Dr. Nguyen was encouraged by his peers to aim higher in the career field several times.

Dr. Nguyen completed dental school in 2002 and embarked on acquiring his own dental practice, a dream he had in 2005. Dr. Nguyen didn’t just want any regular dental practice. He wanted a comprehensive dental practice with the latest technology, such as 3D cone beam x-ray, hard and soft tissue laser and intraoral cameras. With the latest technology, he could leverage his newly acquired professional skills in order to offer the best service to his patients. That dream of a state-of-the-art dental practice saw the light of day in 2009 when he organized a grand opening for the revamped dental practice he bought years earlier.

Where is Dr. Nguyen now?

Today, Dr. Nguyen’s dental practice has 12 dental chairs, each with its own intraoral camera. He credits a combination of many investments such as the IRIS 2.0 Cameras made by Digital Doc, the facility, the proper number of team members to additional training. Training courses to better serve his patients with Implants, for example, IV sedation, sleep apnea. If you want to grow your production to over $1000 per hour, this list is a great place to start.

How can that be? Dr. Nguyen, explains that the cameras, for example, enable him to SHOW his patients that his dental practice is more thorough in its work when compared to the other dental offices. A new patient who comes in knowing that he or she has four cavities discovers from the images captured by the intraoral cameras that there are seven or eight cavities! By SHOWING the patients the extent of their dental problems instead of merely TELLING them, Dr. Nguyen proves the superiority of his services. Consequently, case acceptance rates have soared, along with his income.

Looking back to the $25 per month at a physician’s assistant back in Vietnam to $1,000 an hour. Dr. Nguyen is truly thankful for how far he has come and he encourages those in his field to go after what they want in life. If he could make it, you can make it too!

XTG Handheld X-Ray Shines During Dental Mission Trip

XTG Handheld X-Ray Shines During Dental Mission to Haiti

It is easy to take things for granted when you live in the developed world. We often forget about the struggles third world countries face, such as access to food, clean water, and shelter. These countries also have little or no access to basic dental care. So, the vast majority of the population are living a poor quality of life (severe pain, inability to eat properly, premature tooth loss, gum disease, etc.)

As a way of giving back to humanity, Dr. Chris Hansen of Two Rivers Family Dental and a team of dental professionals went on a mission to Los Cacaos, a remote part of Haiti, for 10 days. Their mission was to provide free dental services to people from the villagers in Los Cacaos and the surrounding areas. Dr. Hansen and his team set off on February 14 determined to do what they could to ease the pain and suffering of locals.

Dental missions are hard to pull off because doctors don’t have access to the same dental equipment and materials they normally would at a dental care facility. On mission trips, you have to make do with makeshift facilities, often performing dental procedures wherever necessary.

All this would not have been possible without portable dentistry equipment, such as the Xray2go, a handheld compact x-ray machine that produces high-quality radiographic images.

In Dr. Hansen’s own words, “We were so fortunate to have a portable X-ray2go from our friends at Digital Doc! They have been generous partners in dental missions!” Her words speak volumes about how valuable the XTG Handheld X-ray can be when you need dental services on the go.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray took it all in stride and delivered high-quality x-ray images a day in and day out right to the very end! In total, the dental mission team performed 4 dental cleanings, 56 dental restorations, 573 tooth extractions, and 11 Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatments. The faithful and reliable Xray2go was there to provide all the radiographic images needed to perform the vast majority of those procedures.

The innovations that have brought portable handheld x-ray machines like the X-ray2go and other compact dental equipment like the LUM sub-enamel illumination device have made it possible to offer dental care just about anywhere. Dental offices that participate in dental missions or other outreach services should take advantage of the functionality and quality these products provide. Contact Digital Doc today for a FREE demo!

Things to Remember About Intraoral Camera Maintenance

Intraoral Camera Maintenance - Digital Doc

Things to Remember About Intraoral Camera Maintenance

All dental offices know how important it is to take every step necessary to ensure infection control. That same zeal also needs to be devoted to taking care of and preserving the condition of the costly dental equipment which facilitates accurate diagnosis and treatment. The IRIS HD USB 3.0 Dental Camera, the XRay2Go or XTG Handheld X-Ray machine and the LUM sub-enamel illumination devices are examples of diagnostic equipment that every dental office should take care of properly. This article discusses some of the crucial disinfecting measures that will help you to not only maintain but increase the longevity of your equipment.

Step #1: Sheaths for Asepsis and Fogging

The IRIS camera sheaths are specifically designed for IRIS cameras only. The optically clear side is on the bottom so you want to put the camera light towards the white paper. The Sheath is not required to be used with the cameras since you can wipe the camera down with a disinfectant wipe; however, you will prevent fogging by adding the sheath. We all have those patients when we ask them to breath out of their nose and they do the opposite.

Step #2: Refer to the User Manual

No two manufacturers make intraoral cameras the same way. It is therefore prudent for you to read the user manual of your IRIS intraoral camera and find out what the manufacturer recommends as the right way to clean or maintain this particular piece of dental equipment.

For example, one manufacturer may recommend that you use an alcohol wipe to clean the lens of the camera while another might forbid it. Follow the specific recommendations provided in the manual so that your camera isn’t damaged during the cleaning process. The advice of following the manufacturer’s instructions also applies to any other dental equipment that you may have, such as the LUM sub-enamel illumination device and the XTG Handheld X-Ray machine.

Step #3: Place Your Intraoral Camera on a Surface You Can Disinfect

The third step that you should take is to place the IRIS Intraoral camera on a sterile surface or on a disposable liner. Once the camera is on that surface, dispose of the gloves that you wore while taking intraoral images of the patient.

After taking the gloves off, proceed to wash your hands thoroughly. This added precaution is necessary because there’s a possibility that you came in contact with the patient’s fluids. After washing and drying your hands, wear fresh gloves and proceed with the next steps of the process.

Step #4: Wipe the Camera Down

You should always wipe down the entire camera using Digi Wipes, which are scientifically proven to have superior disinfection properties compared to other medical wipes on the market. Don’t use the wipes picked from the grocery store! The wipes used to clean your camera must be specifically designed for this role.

Step #5: Connect the Cable and Store the IRIS Intraoral Camera

Once the camera is dry, reconnect its USB cable and place the camera in a fresh sheath. Thereafter, place the camera in its storage place or on a sterile surface, such as a tray, if you intend to use it again. Discard the gloves you wore while cleaning the IRIS 2.0 Dental Camera for Windows.

The steps above should be mastered by every member of your staff. Insist that they follow those steps every single time without any exceptions. That way, your equipment will not be an instrument of cross-contamination or provision of inaccurate images.

Understanding Caries Detection Devices

Over time, medicine has moved away from aggressive surgery to minimally invasive procedures as well as placing more emphasis on prevention and early detection. This change has been triggered by the need to lower the rates at which complications develop after surgery, as well as the need to reduce recovery time and the pain experienced by patients. Dentistry has also taken the same trajectory and caries detection devices, such as the LUM, have been introduced on the market in order to make it easier to catch caries early and reverse this condition before it costs patients their teeth. This article discusses some of the shortcomings of the traditional caries detection technology and also explores the benefits that the new crop of caries detection devices bring to the field of dentistry.

The Shortcomings of Traditional Caries Detection Technology

Radiographs: Radiography has been used for long in the fight against caries. However, this technology has one big weakness. Radiographs tend to be effective in alerting a dentist about the presence of caries once those caries have advanced and reached the dentinoenamel junction. In other words, radiographs can only detect caries with a high degree of accuracy once the bacteria causing caries has done so much damage that the dentine is starting to be exposed. This is unacceptable for dentists interested in minimally invasive dentistry since such severe damage requires invasive remedies or interventions.

Dental Explorers: dental explorers have also been used for long to examine the surface of teeth in order to find out which portions have caries. However, dental experts have been discouraging the use of these devices because the sharp tip of the explorer can compromise the portions of the teeth that are re-mineralizing. This can inadvertently give caries a chance to advance further.

The Benefits of Caries Detection Devices

The age of digital dentistry has ushered the dawn of caries detection devices like the LUM. These devices offer a variety of advantages or uses, such as the following;

Checking for caries before sealants are placed: Caries detection devices provide sub-enamel illumination so that dentists can use their findings to make various decisions. One of these pieces of information collected with the help of LUM is the state of any caries on the teeth before dental sealants are placed. This information can be captured more effectively once the caries detection tool is used alongside a high-quality intraoral camera, such as the IRIS HD USB 3.0 Dental Camera. The images captured can be analyzed thoroughly so that any caries detected can be treated before the sealants are put in place.

Assessing Re-mineralization Measures: Caries detection devices can also be used to monitor whether the measures to re-mineralize the teeth of a patient are working as expected, or not. The information gathered can be used to change the treatment plan if tangible results aren’t forthcoming, or a specific approach can be retained if it is bringing the desired outcomes. In this way, the time that would have been lost waiting for an ineffective method to bear fruit can be saved.

Monitoring Sealants: Caries detection devices have also shown their usefulness as a tool to help dentists to monitor the edges of dental sealants as time goes by. Any deterioration can be tracked so that a timely decision to replace the sealants can be made. This proactive approach could not have been possible if caries detection devices didn’t exist.

As you can see, caries detection devices like the LUM sub-enamel illumination device can add a whole new dimension to the ease with which your dental office can catch caries early. However, you should use these devices together with the other caries detection systems for better results. Contact Digital DOC for a virtual or in-office demo so that you can grasp how easy your work will become once this tool is available to you and your staff.