Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

27February 6-12, 2012United Kingdom Edition Product Spotlight L.I.F.E. Light Induced Fluorescence Evaluator, for the diagnosis and treatment of tooth decay For a limited time only, get the USB Dock Station (shown right) absolutely FREE when you purchase the SoproLife. SoproLife W e t o c r e a t e For further information: 01480 477307 info@acteongroup.co.uk | sales@acteongroup.co.uk | www.acteongroup.com A patented new fluorescence technology which allows you to ‘see the invisible’ – detection of occlusal or interproximal decay, even in its earliest stages, which is often missed by X-rays. The fluorescence images produced in treatment mode show a differentiation between healthy and diseased tissue, while images can be compared under white light in daylight mode. All images can be evaluated with magnification of 30x to 100x and work seamlessly with Sopro Imaging software. SOPROLIFE DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT 2012 Sopro Life Ad (Dental Tribune)_2012 Sopro Life Ad (Dental Tribune) 30/01/2012 17:15 Page 1 Operating principle The highlighting and qualification of instances of demineralisation affecting the enamel or dentinal tissues in the process of decay, which was described by Banerjee in 2002, was redefined by Prof. Tassery’s team at the Marseilles Faculty of Dental Surgery, via the LIFEDT® concept. This concept was then concretized via the de- sign of the Soprolife® camera (Ac- teon® Group). What is involved is a high-performance intra-oral camera (featuring a zoom that enlarges up to approximately 100x) equipped with white LEDs or LEDs that generate different types of fluorescence depending on whether the enamel or dentine are healthy or decayed, using blue LEDs. Soprolife is both a traditional intra-oral camera and a diag- nostics support tool. It may be connected to a computer (PC or Mac) featuring software which acquires, stores and manages the images. A monitor may also be installed in front of the patient in order to communicate with him or her and monitor the treatment carried out. The protocol is simple: • Observe under white light and blue light in order to identify the suspect zones • Clean using an air polisher • Confirm or rule out the suspect zones • Minimally-invasive or conven- tional preparation with step-by- step control of the preparations using fluorescence. Primary caries: diagnosis and preventive treatment. Red fluo- rescence reveals the presence of a suspect zone. If the red fluores- cence persists after cleaning (air polishing), then the lesion is con- firmed. Whether or not deminer- alisation is highlighted may lead to the decision to seal cracks for therapeutic purposes. Primary caries: diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment. A minimally invasive approach should be limited to eliminating solely enamel and dentinal tis- sues, which is necessary for the approach, and solely to demin- eralized tissues that cannot be retained. It enables a smaller fill- ing to be created, subject to lower mechanical strains, offering a wider range of materials. In the clinical case being discussed here, during the excavation phase, the practitioner is guided by the red fluorescence of decayed dentine. Preparation is limited solely to the red interface, which will have to be either partially or completely eliminated, depending on the re- sidual hardness and the type of carious activity. Secondary caries. The sus- ceptibility factors, and the diffi- culty of applying “perfect” fillings, enabling optimal bacterial plaque control, facilitate secondary car- ies. Diagnosing them as early as possible will avoid lesions that experience development often masked by the adhesive qualities of modern materials. The sealants must also be tightly controlled. Enlargements and fluorescence can assist with diagnosis and ear- lier treatment. Diagnosis of fractures. Frac- tures in healthy or decayed teeth may prompt the patient to come in for a consultation for pain with an aetiology that is sometimes dif- ficult to determine without using enlargements and the differen- tiation that the fluorescence intra- oral camera can enable. Fluorescence enables very early diagnosis (during the first stages of demineralisation of the enamel), enabling chemical treat- ment of the initial lesions. Firstly by the patient (brushing and home treatment of identified lesions in their early stage), and of course by the dental surgeon: professional prophylactic cleaning, treatment using fluoride varnish, etc. Soprolife® is an outstanding tool for motivating people as the patient can see the first stages of the lesions and can even follow the gradual remineralisation of the tissues treated. Fluorescence shows us where and how to act. It also makes it possible to explain why preventive measures should be reinforced and, above all, it enables the pre- ventive or curative treatments to be justified to the patient. DT About the authors Dr Michel Blique DDS, MSc, PhD. University Fellow in Paediatric Den- tistry at the Nancy Faculty of Dental Surgery. Private practise in France and Luxembourg, limited to minimal- ly invasive and prophylactic dentistry and medical periodontics Prof. Hervé Tassery (co-author), Pro- fessor at the University of the Medi- terranean