Midwest Caries I.D.

The soft LED light emitted by the Midwest Caries I.D. captures the reflection and refraction from the enamel rods in the tooth being examined. Healthy tooth structure is more translucent than structure that is decalcified, which means it has a different optic signature. The light reflected from decalcified enamel is captured by fiber optics in the detection handpiece and converted into electrical signals. The Midwest Caries I.D. aids in the detection of occlusal and interproximal caries in molars and premolars. The manufacturer recommends using the handpiece to detect caries in pits and fissures and interproximal areas on posterior teeth that have not been restored.

Seven dental professionals participated in the Dental Product Shopper evaluation of the Midwest Caries I.D.—5 dentists and 2 hygienists. They were asked to comment on such things as the size and weight of the handpiece, ease of use, and the ability to detect caries.

Handpiece: Size, Weight, and Ergonomics

The manufacturer describes the Midwest Caries I.D. cordless handpiece as lightweight and ergonomic. When the evaluators were asked to rate the handpiece with regard to size and weight, 2 rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good to good, and 1 rated it as fair. One evaluator said that the handpiece “could be lighter.” Another evaluator said, “It was a nice size. Small enough to reach very far [into the] posterior. Not too heavy or clunky.” With regard to ergonomics, 2 evaluators rated the handpiece as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator described the handpiece as “a little thick but light, so [it is] easy to handle.” Another evaluator simply said, “No problems here.”

Ease of Use

According to DENTSPLY Professional, the Midwest Caries I.D. is easy to use. To avoid false readings, users are instructed to ensure that the examined teeth are moist and free of cleaning agent, prophy paste, plaque, and calculus. When beginning the examination, the dental professional should scan the Midwest Caries I.D. Probe along the pits and fissures of the tooth being examined. The tip of the Probe should always be parallel to the long axis of the tooth. For interproximal caries, detection is only possible by an occlusal approach. The user must maintain direct contact with the tooth, but no pressure needs to be applied. If caries are detected, the user focuses on the entry point and pivots the Probe to determine size and location. When the evaluators were asked to rate the Midwest Caries I.D. on ease of use, 5 rated it as very good to good and 2 rated it as fair. One evaluator said that the device “worked well” but that she was concerned about “taking it apart after every use” and the “potential for mishandling.” Another evaluator described the device as “easy to use.” A common concern among the evaluators was the reaction of their patients. Some patients found the size of the device to be “intimidating” or said that it looked like a “giant scaler.” However, after explaining how the device works, “size and comfort was not an issue [with the patients].”

Ability to Detect Caries

According to the manufacturer, the Midwest Caries I.D. detects 92% of occlusal caries and 80% of interproximal caries. When the evaluators were asked to rate the device on its ability to detect caries, 2 rated it as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, 1 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair. One evaluator said, “I like that it has the ability to look at the interproximal area.” Another evaluator agreed, saying that the Midwest Caries I.D. did a “great job interproximally.”

Usefulness of Visual and Audio Alerts

Users are alerted both visually and audibly to the presence of caries. A green light illuminates the tooth to indicate healthy structure and the red light indicates decalcification. During tooth mapping, the handpiece emits beeps that range in speed from slow to rapid when the light is red to show that caries are present. When the evaluators rated the usefulness of these signals, 3 rated them as very good, 3 rated them as good, and 1 rated them as fair. One evaluator said that the visual alerts “were good…but the audio was almost annoying.” Two other evaluators said that they found it difficult to distinguish between moderate and fast beeps.

Overall Satisfaction

When asked about their overall satisfaction with the Midwest Caries I.D., 5 rated it as very good to good and 2 rated it as fair. One evaluator said that she had “very low false positives” and that “for the most part [the device] was right on.”