KaVo DIAGNOdent Pen

The DIAGNOdent Pen is a hand-held laser caries detection aid that measures photological changes in tooth structure caused by caries. Sub-surface caries lesions can be extremely difficult to detect using an explorer. The DIAGNOdent Pen works on the principle that altered tooth substances and bacteria "fluoresce" when they are exposed to a specific wavelength of light. The DIAGNOdent Pen operates at a wavelength of 655 nm at which clean, healthy tooth structure exhibits little or no fluorescence, resulting in very low scale readings on the display. However, carious tooth structure will exhibit fluorescence, proportionate to the degree of caries, resulting in elevated scale readings on the display of the DIAGNOdent. An audio signal allows the operator to hear changes in the scale values. This enables the focus to be on the patient, not solely on the device.