Question: I recently moved down to Florida and was examined by a new dentist. He found several cavities on the chewing surface of some of my molars. Why did my long-time, previous dentist miss all of these? I was just in his office a few months ago, just before moving. - Sally in West Boca Raton
Answer: This is a dilemma we hear quite often in the state of hanging chads, flip flops and ankle tattoos. Generally, X-rays are useful for detection of chewing surface decay (occlusal caries) only after extensive lesions have developed that are very close to the nerve canals of the teeth. Over the past few years electronic devices been developed to detect these cavities in much earlier stages. The Diagnodent uses a laser to read the bacteria levels produced by cavity-causing organisms. The Spectra system shows live images of teeth with the microorganisms fluorescing in red against a green background of the healthy enamel. For more info on this subject or any other dental topic, contact our office at 239-936-5252.