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FAQ

• Where can the Midwest Caries I.D.™ handpiece be used in the oral cavity?

  The Midwest Caries I.D.™ detection handpiece is recommended for use as an aid in the detection of caries in non restored occlusal pits and fissures and interproximal areas on PERMANENT posterior teeth (molars and pre-molars).

• Question: What does decalcification look like?

  Answer: The enamel structure of the tooth is made up of “enamel rods” (pictured below) that when sound are straight, tall & closely packed together. Enamel rods are crystal-like in nature and are translucent allowing light to pass through. When decalcification occurs, the enamel rods will become irregular, breaking down the crystal structure causing them not to stand as tall, allowing more spacing between, and ultimately does not allow light to pass through the same as sound enamel.

• Question: How does it detect decalcification?

  Answer: Using the information above as the basis, the Midwest Caries I.D.™ unit works off of LED (light emitting diode) and Fiber Optic technology. The unit has 3 fibers (1st emits a green light, 2nd emits a red/infrared light and the 3rd is used by the unit to collect light feedback from the tooth).
  The LED light that is emitted from the Midwest Caries I.D.™ unit passes through the enamel rods. The photons from the light are going to be: Reflected, Refracted, Scattered or Absorbed. If the enamel is sound the light is absorbed into the tooth and no audible signal is given. If the enamel is demineralized, or decay is present the light will be reflected, refracted or scattered and a 3rd Fiber Optic will capture that, process it within the Caries I.D. unit and signal by extinguishing the green light and replacing it with a red light and audible signal indicating a change in the enamel structure.

• Question: How deep does the unit detect (read) on the occlusal and Interproximal area?

  Answer: The Midwest Caries I.D.™ detection handpiece 2-in-1 Probe LED technology penetration is approximately 3mm deep. On the interproximal marginal ridge area, this is generally just at or below the contact point where the vast majority of interproximal lesions form and are difficult to interpret through visual, tactile, and radiographic techniques, especially when tooth crowding exists.

• Question: Does the unit detect through composite or amalgam fillings? Why or Why Not?

  Answer: No. Again, going back to the basics, the unit relies on LED light and enamel translucency to work. Restorations of ANY type do not have the same structure as the enamel rods. Therefore, any and all restorations will cause the LED light to reflect, refract and scatter, triggering a false positive red light.

• Question: How “clean” is a clean tooth surface?

  Answer: The Midwest Caries I.D.™ technology works with light and the translucency of the enamel rods. The tooth surface must be free of plaque, heavy stain and calculus prior to use to be accurate. These may cause the light to reflect, refract and scatter, triggering a false positive red light.

• Question: Once caries is detected and has been excavated, can the Midwest Caries I.D.™ detection handpiece be used again to check for residual caries prior to restoring?

  Answer: No. Once the preparation is into the dentin, the unit will not function the same as unprepared tooth structure.

• Question: Why does the detection handpiece only work on Molars & Pre-Molars?

  Answer: The detection handpiece detects changes in the enamel structure and must have intact enamel to penetrate. Facial and incisal enamel is not thick enough, resulting in potentially false readings coming from the dentin OR from penetrating completely through the facial/incisal section and out the back side.

• Question: Why does this detection handpiece not work on Primary teeth?

  Answer: Enamel on primary teeth is not as high in mineral content compared to permanent teeth. The enamel is also usually thinner. For these two reasons, use on primary teeth may lead to false positives.

• Question: Does the detection handpiece detect caries on the occlusal buccal and occlusal lingual sides of the tooth?

  Answer: Yes. The unit must always be used from the occlusal surface (not directly from the buccal or lingual) and can be moved over occlusal buccal or occlusal lingual pits and fissures.

• Question: While reading the interproximal surface, does an adjacent crown affect the reading (false positive)?

  Answer: No, not if the probe is positioned correctly on the marginal ridge, and parallel to the long axis of the tooth.

• Question: Are there any patients I should not use the handpiece on (ie. Heart conditions, blood pressure, etc.)?

  Answer: As a precaution, the Midwest Caries I.D.™ Probe and its components must never be used on patients with an artificial prosthesis or heart murmur without prior medical consultation. Caution should be taken with persons fitted with cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators and other active implanted medical devices. For more detailed information, please consult the DFU.