The CariScreen Caries Susceptibility Test is a simple 1-minute chair-side bacterial test for assessing patients’ caries risk. After years of biofilm research from leading experts, we now understand that there are numerous strains of acid-producing bacteria which play a role in the caries infection. This means we need a broad spectrum method to diagnose it, as opposed to culturing for one or two specific strains of bacteria. Given this knowledge, we must now evolve the industry standard from using tools that only detect the symptom of dental disease, to finally be able to diagnose the infection itself and therein have the opportunity to treat it.
The CariScreen utilizes ATP bioluminescence technology to detect the levels of acid-producing, decay-causing bacteria residing in an individual’s plaque. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy molecule found in all cells. A common characteristic among acid-producing bacteria is that they contain up to 100 times more ATP than non-acid-producing strains. When this ATP is brought into contact with the unique liquid-stable, bioluminescence enzymes in the CariScreen Swab, light is emitted in direct proportion to the amount of ATP present. The CariScreen Meter measures the amount of light generated in this reaction and provides information about the potential levels of cariogenic bacteria present in the biofilm. The reading appears on the CariScreen Meter as a number of Relative Light Units (RLU’s) which corresponds to a healthy versus a cariogenic biofilm.
The testing involves a quick, painless swab of patients’ plaque a reading is available within 15 seconds as to whether there is a predominance of acidic bacteria present in their biofilm. Readings below 1500 RLU’s generally correspond to a patient at low risk for decay while above 1500 RLU’s represent those patients needing caries management efforts. The test does qualify under the CDT 7 code, D0425 for Caries Susceptibility Testing. This simple test allows your practice to not only be on the cutting edge of technology but provide a standard of care to your patients in line with the
CAMBRA (Caries Management By Risk Assessment) approach to minimally invasive dentistry.
