A new tool the size of a toothpick may be capable of detecting tooth decay before it shows up on an x-ray and could be the latest tool in the fight against cavities, according to an article recently published by Tufts University.
CaviSense, invented by Gili Naveh, an associate professor at both Tufts’ engineering and dental schools, can be slid in between teeth to detect bacteria eating away at tooth enamel so anyone can find cavities.
“If we can catch cavities earlier and prevent drilling, it will prolong the lifespan of our teeth,” Naveh said in the story.
After a parent expressed frustration over the multiple, recurring cavities their child had and their inability to catch cavities in their early stages before their child needed a filling, Naveh was inspired to create CaviSense.
“They told me, ‘If we could just test at home and see when these early-stage cavities are starting, then we could get to the dentist on time instead of needing three to five fillings each trip,’” Naveh said.
Naveh, who already had an idea of how to detect caries before they appear on x-ray imaging, got to work developing CaviSense. The final design of her hard work and testing is an oval-shaped tool the size of a toothpick with a colored tip that can be placed between teeth where there is a concern of decay.
Before testing with the CaviSense toothpick, kids are given a sugar gummy to eat. The bacteria in the mouth quickly begin digesting the sugar and secreting acids, which the tooth tool instantly detects. The CaviSense detects whether a tooth’s surface has a pH of 5.5 or less that enables bacteria to produce acids that eat away at tooth enamel, according to the story.
“It’s cheap and it’s easy to use and it’s very visual,” Naveh said. “Both the dentist and patient can see that there is a surface between the teeth that is demineralizing, and some patients appreciate an objective tool that they can see with their own eyes.”
With the results in hand, parents and dentists can collaborate on a filling-free way to keep kids’ mouths healthy. Dentists can clear away bacteria in troublesome spots and apply a high-mineral paste to strengthen the enamel. The process is easier and cheaper than filling a cavity.
For now, the CaviSense tool can only be used on a single tooth surface. Naveh and others are designing another at-home tool that a patient bites into that can test multiple tooth surfaces simultaneously. That tool, too, will change colors, indicating problem areas.
“We can enable people to test whether they have cavities from home and then get to the dentist in time to stop cavities and even heal the tooth,” Naveh said. “Everybody will be happier -- kids, parents, and even dentists, because they’ll be able to provide quicker, better treatments to help more patients.”
