Evaluation of visual, explorer, and a laser device for detection of early occlusal caries

Reliable early diagnosis represents the keystone in modern dental care. This study aimed at disclosing a correlation between length of experience by the dentist and accuracy of caries diagnosis, by traditional clinical technique, that included visual and explorer examination, and evaluating the accuracy of the DIAGNOdent laser device. Histological sections confirmed clinical data obtained. Results showed that a reverse relationship between length of experience and accuracy of caries diagnosis i.e. younger dentist could achieve more accurate diagnosis. Laser diagnosis was superior to clinical diagnosis, whether by vision or explorer. It is concluded that DIAGNOdent laser is a promising instrument that can represent a valuable contribution to the dental practice.