Dental Lasers Used for Decay Detection

Just today, I pulled out my Diagnodent; which is a laser that helps me detect decay in an early state.  I am amazed at this technology.  Prior to me using the Diagnodent; which I purchased about eight years ago, I would have to use the explorer technique.  This is basically sticking an explorer into the decay and seeing if it “sticks”.  Today it is still a very useful diagnostic tool for the Dentist but the Diagnodent tells me, with utmost certainty, whether decay is present.  What I have seen over the last eight years, is that patients have had very small restorations placed with minimal tooth reduction because of Diagnodent—instead of waiting until the decay is so big that it forms a good sized cavity and filling.  When taken care of early, this should not happen.  If my hygienist, or myself, pull out a “dental laser” to check for decay, it is because we care about noticing decay in an early state on your teeth.