Carivu is a radiation-free imaging device that detects cavities and cracks without radiation by using transillumination technology. By hugging the tooth, near-infrared light shines through the tooth allowing us to see through the tooth exposing its structure and any cavities or cracks with very high accuracy. By using this radiation-free imaging technology, we are able to detect cavities earlier than x-rays. The device also acts as a camera so that images can be captured and shared with the patient. For those patients who refuse to have x-rays taken, Carivu is an alternative radiation-free diagnostic method with which they can feel comfortable.
This new system employs near-infrared light which, in images, turns the natural tooth transparent and the caries dark similar to radiographs, and thus, in a view that is familiar to clinicians. Not only are CariVu images easy to read and understand, they are captured and stored with the patient’s other images. Since all intra-oral X-rays, camera, and CariVu images for the select tooth appear side-by-side, the clinician can quickly compare them to make a diagnosis and decide on a course of treatment. These images can be shared with patients so that they may better understand the need for preventive or restorative care.
The technology behind CariVu offers an advantage in the diagnosis of caries over systems that rely on fluorescence reactions which is typically denoted by colors or numeric values. In laboratory testing on the comparison of these two technologies, this new transillumination device showed that the view of the lesions on the images correlated well with their actual physical conditions. Thus, with CariVu, the dentist gains a more accurate view of the actual carious lesion’s shape and size, not just an indication of the presence of decay. This allows the best of both worlds for the patient who wants radiation-free imaging and the dentist who wants the most accurate data about your teeth possible.
