Early Caries Detection Using  

Electronic Caries Detecton)

Dental caries remains one of the most common chronic diseases in humans. zero indicates no cavitated lesion, as intact tooth enamel is electrically non-conductive.                                     80% to 90% of tooth decay in permanent teeth occurs in the pits and fissures located on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth. Diagnosing caries in these vulnerable sites often creates a diagnostic dilemma for dental professionals. Early pit and fissure decay often goes undetected by x-rays, visual inspection, and probing with an explorer, which can often damage enamel surface integrity.

Ortek Therapeutics recently introduced the Ortek ECD, an electronic caries detection device that measures the conductivity of enamel. Powered by a 9-V battery, this small, portable system has a base unit with a digital display, a handpiece with a dimensionally configured stainless steel tip that reaches into the bottom of a pit or fissure, and a reference lip hook. If the dentin-enamel junction is breached by demineralization, hydrostatic pressure that exists within dentinal tubules will allow minuscule amounts of conductive dentinal fluid to enter the breached enamel site, allowing the ECD to complete an electrical circuit.

Loss of mineral from enamel as a result of caries activity increases porous size and enamel porosity. As this demineralization increases, more dentinal fluid enters the breached site. The more fluid detected results in lower resistance, a higher current, and an increasing digital caries score that is digitally displayed from 0 to 100. A zero indicates no cavitated lesion, as intact tooth enamel is electrically non-conductive.

The ECD is highly efficacious, very affordable, and quick and easy to use. The ECD is a valuable new tool that can help diagnose and monitor early cavitated lesions in pit and fissures that often go undetected by x-rays, visuals, and tactile methods. Incorporating the ECD into my practice has numerous advantages, including dramatically enhanced patient care, a new profit center with a rapid return on investment, and building trust with current patients while attracting new ones.