Nonradiation dental diagnostic tool to ease safety concerns

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A familiar weather technology is clearing things up for dentists and patients. It's the Spectra System, using Doppler radar to detect tooth decay.

Doppler radar takes on a different twist at the dentist office. You are not looking at a storm on radar.

"That red area is actually where a cavity is forming," said Dr. John Levy pointing to a screen. "This is really exciting because now we can actually see things without any radiation, and it's really a benefit for the patient and it's also a benefit for the dentists as well."

No radiation needed.

"It's just another tool in our tool chest," said Dr. Levy.

Instead of a pick or low radiation x-rays, Dr. Levy with Levy Dental Group in New Haven, relies on Doppler radar.

The same technology meteorologists use to forecast the weather now enables him to clearly detect surface tooth decay.

"You're actually seeing what you would say is, storms inside of a tooth, if you want to use that same analogy," Dr. Levy said. " And so what we're able to see by just flashing a little pen light over a person's tooth with Doppler radar, we're able to see the intensity of the storm, which is the decay, how deep it is and where it is."

Other benefits for the patient and the dentist include a quicker diagnosis and a more accurate treatment.

"I don't have to go into the blue areas because those were fine," Dr. Levy said. "I can verify that I got all the decay out and I can just put a filling in. It doesn't have to be as deep as I would conventionally have done so.  So I don't have to be aggressive at all."

Patients like Michele Gambardella said, "just not having the instrument in your mouth is very comforting. And it's easy, I don't feel anything."

She is able to watch every step of the way.

"But after seeing the number and the red area, you know," said Gambardella. " I don't want it to get any bigger so I'm going to be taking care of that."

Dr. Levy still uses digital x-rays, which are low radiation dental x-rays, to detect other underlying dental issues.