Spectra Caries Detection Aid

What if there was a way that you could detect tooth decay or cavities before visible symptoms appear? That is exactly what the Spectra Caries Detection Aid does.
At Pike & Valega, DDS, we use this state-of-the-art dental technology to help accurately diagnose and treat our patients. Learn more about how our use of Spectra helps us provide high-quality, exceptional dental care to the Poolesville and Rockville areas.

Takes the Guesswork Out of Diagnosing and Treating Tooth Decay

Before Spectra was invented, there was a lot of guesswork involved in diagnosing and treating tooth decay. Dentists used X-rays and visual inspections to identify areas affected by tooth decay.

While X-rays and visual inspections are great at identifying problem areas, they don’t always provide valuable information (such as the depth of a cavity) that dentists need to determine the best treatment option. This sometimes resulted in dentists recommending one type of treatment, only to discover — usually after they have started treatment — that the tooth decay was more severe than anticipated and therefore would respond better to a different type of treatment.

This no longer happens now that Spectra is available. The information obtained by the Spectra images helps dentists diagnose and treat tooth decay with pinpoint accuracy.

One of the major benefits of Spectra is the ability to determine the depth of cavities. The images captured by Spectra not only show where tooth decay is present, but it provides a numerical reading that indicates the depth of a cavity. Dentists can use this information when making treatment recommendations.

How Does the Spectra Caries Detection Aid Work?

A tiny hand-held device no bigger than a pen is used to shine a blue fluorescent light into your mouth. When the blue fluorescent light comes into contact with the surface of the teeth, it changes color. Our dentist can determine problem areas where tooth decay and cavities are present depending upon the color of the fluorescent light.

If the tooth is healthy and there is no sign of tooth decay or cavities, the light appears green. It turns red if the light detects bacteria that cause tooth decay and cavities.
The handheld device acts as a camera and captures images of the mouth with the highlighted colors visible. These images are then projected onto a nearby screen in real-time, which allows you to see exactly what our dentist is seeing.

Visit Our Poolesville or Rockville Dental Office To See How We Use Spectra To Detect Tooth Decay

At Pike & Valega, DDS, we provide exceptional, high-quality dental care to the Poolesville and Rockville areas. With Spectra, we can quickly and accurately diagnose tooth decay and cavities in the early stages when it is easier to treat.

Curious to see how we use Spectra? Come see for yourself how we use this new dental technology by scheduling an appointment for a new patient dental exam. Call our Poolesville dental office or Rockville dental office and schedule an appointment. We look forward to welcoming you to our dental family.