Precision Diagnosis

Our West Chester Dental Practice Utilizes Laser Cavity Detection for our Patients

Our methods for cavity detection include oral inspection, surgical telescopes, and radiation free cavity detection methods via the DEXIS CariVu Decay-Detection System. We will dive into each of these areas below and how they allow us to safely achieve precision diagnoses.

INTRA-ORAL CAMERA

The old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is so true. In the past, a dentist would check your teeth and then explain their findings in terms that were difficult for some patients to understand. With the aid of this new and exciting camera, the doctors and staff of Chester County Family Dentistry can show you exactly what they are seeing. Even better, the image is magnified 35 times its normal size and displayed on a flat screen monitor. This dramatically improves our ability to diagnose small cavities, dental fractures and leaking fillings which allows for earlier treatment and the prevention of more serious problems. The intra-oral camera is also great for before & after photos as well as supporting documentation for insurance claims. You have to see it to believe it.

SURGICAL TELESCOPES

When the doctors and hygienists work on your teeth, they will most likely be wearing a funny looking pair of glasses. These are actually surgical telescopes that allow them to see and evaluate intricate details as they work. These special “glasses” help us to make tiny but important adjustments to the procedure that would go unnoticed with the naked eye. They are an invaluable tool in providing the most precise, beautiful dentistry possible.

RADIATION-FREE CAVITY DETECTION

Some of our patients are concerned with how much radiation that they are getting from a typical dental x-ray. We fully understand their thoughts on this issue because we think about it too. We are all patients of our practice as well! Although a set of our advanced digital dental x-rays exposes you to less radiation than you would get on typical walk in the park on a sunny day, we now have a way to diagnose caries (decay) between your teeth without taking even a single x-ray! We are one of the few practices in Chester County that offers the DEXIS CariVu Decay-Detection System. This portable, hand-held wand uses patented transillumination technology to help detect cracks, weakened areas and decay on all surfaces of your teeth.

By hugging the tooth and bathing it in safe, near-infrared light, CariVu’s transillumination technology makes the enamel appear transparent while porous lesions trap and absorb the light. This unique caries-detector allows us to see through the tooth exposing its structure and the actual markers of any cavity with very high accuracy!

Similar in appearance, DEXIS CariVu images read like familiar x-ray images — lesions will appear as dark areas while healthy tooth appears whiter and brighter. When you are in for your next check-up, you may experience the benefits of this revolutionary system in helping us keep your mouth cavity-free!

DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY

Our DEXIS digital X-ray system will provide you with immediate diagnosis and only uses a fraction of the radiation as a standard film-based X-ray. Digital films allow us to use the software’s tools to locate decay at a much earlier stage which translates to smaller, less expensive and more comfortable fillings for you. In addition, there are no more chemicals used in processing which leads to a cleaner Chester County.

Contact Us to learn more!