For years I've been a fan of AdDent and for most of those years, I've been saying it's because the company makes "better mousetraps"... and that is so true. One of their products that needs to be in every doctor's tool belt is the MicroLux DW. This nifty little device serves two functions. It can be used as an incredible transilluminator and it can be used as a fluorescence device.
Let's discuss fluorescence first. The high powered LED in this mode emits a light of 405nm. That makes it in the part of the spectrum that looks purple. When exposed to this color of light, biofilm and caries forming bacteria glow red. This provides several diagnostic indicators for dentistry. The most talked about is to find small areas of caries. Fluorescence allows the clinician to see areas of enamel breakdown before the lesion has cavitated enough to allow for an explorer stick. Those areas can either be restored very easily, normally without anesthetic, or treated with remineralization therapy. Of course which treatment to provide requires a doctor's skill and expertise.
The second way to use the fluorescence mode is during hygiene care. The MicroLux DW can help hygienists to see where biofilm and plaque hide and can help show patients areas of concern. We are seeing more and more literature published that demonstrate the oral/systemic connection and proper plaque removal during home care is an important step in helping reduce systemic bacterial counts of oral pathogens. Being able to SHOW the patients the areas they miss at home can help give them better overall health.
It can also be a great way to monitor the health of implants. Since identifying problems around implants can sometimes be difficult, being able to visually examine them using fluorescence can be a tremendous help in evaluating them and detecting the very beginning stages of periimplantitis.
The tip or "light guide" of the MicroLux DW is 3mm in diameter, which allows it to be placed into narrow interproximal areas. AdDent also makes attachments for the device that have a tip of 1mm in diameter. These super small tips come in lengths of 3, 5, and 7mm. This allows the light to go into even smaller and tighter spaces. I highly recommend this tip for implant evaluation as it allows the operator to see incredibly well into the small areas of soft tissue surrounding implants. Most clinicians are also working under magnification and viewing these areas under magnification improves diagnostic ability even more. All tips can be autoclaved to avoid cross contamination and the device itself can be wrapped.
The purple wavelength is also handy for identifying small composites or sealants. Bonded materials appear different under this wavelength. Occasionally during an initial new patient exam it can be difficult to tell if an area is natural tooth structure or some type of bonded material. This wavelength makes identifying them simple!
Now I'll go into the second function of the MicroLux DW. The device also has a very bright white LED that, when paired with the same 3mm diameter tip, can be used for transillumination. Placing the tip into the interproximal area can provide an amazing amount of detail and can easily help the doctor find caries in those areas. As all clinicians know, bitewing radiographs don't always reveal everything going on in the interproximal areas. Using the MicroLux DW with the white LED in those areas can help provide needed information. It can help confirm a questionable area, but it can also help the doctor decide with greater confidence that an area should be monitored and not restored. It can also be a great help when monitoring remineralization therapy in interproximal areas. I normally explain to patients that the device helps me make decisions and it doesn't require any radiation. Patients appreciate that we are doing all we can to keep x-ray exposure low.
The MicroLux DW is also a terrific way to check the interproximal areas of anteriors as well. Keeping with the ALARA principle when it comes to radiographs, PA's to check those areas aren't taken routinely and the white light of the MicroLux DW lets me evaluate those areas any time I need to, without the need for x-ray exposure.
The last great thing I want to tell you about this device is that it is affordable. Overhead in a dental practice is high and often the things that we need to provide great care come with a significant price tag. There aren't many devices a dentist can reach for routinely that can be purchased for under $500... but the MicroLux DW is one of them. That price tag makes it easy to put several in your office. I routinely reach for this device and it is *highly recommended*!
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