DIAGNODENT (laser induced fluroscence)

For early caries detection, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has proven its effectiveness. Fluorescence is the emission of visible light by a substance that has absorbed light of a different wavelength . LIF yields information on the metabolic state of cells or presence of micro-organisms depending on the nature of the fluorescent molecule (co-enzymes or porphyrin metabolites, respectively). The tissue examined is excited with a specific laser wavelength that generates a maximum fluorescence response. After a few nano/micro-seconds, the tissue will de-excite and emit light at a wavelength larger than the original excitation wavelength. The so-called ‘DIAGNOdent’ (Kayo, Biberach, Germany) is a laser-induced caries-detection device that is equipped with a semiconductor laser (655 nm) as excitation source. The laser light is emitted from the tip of the handpiece that also captures the fluorescence reflected from the tooth surface, by means of a photodiode (680 nm) in combination with a long-pass filter that absorbs the backscattered excitation. The device quantifies the fluorescence intensity that is subsequently converted to a calibration standard, ranging from 0 to 99.

                                                                                         REF: JR OF DENT, 2011.