If you develop a cavity, our dentists can repair it. But it is easier and cheaper to address the problem before a cavity develops. In order to do that, our office features the DIAGNOdent™ laser cavity detection system in Tysons Corner, Virginia. We invite you to call Avanti Dentistry at (703) 952-0663 for your appointment with Dr. Farshad Farhoumand and associates for a healthier smile.

DIAGNOdent™ is a laser cavity detection system that helps our dentists detect cavities at the earliest possible stage. This painless system uses a handpiece that our team members simply pass over your teeth. The DIAGNOdent then gives a numeric rating to indicate the health level of the tooth. If a tooth is decayed, the system will alert our team. We are then able to formulate a treatment plan to improve the health of that tooth.

Because the DIAGNOdent can detect tooth decay before it is visible to the naked eye, we are able to treat issues before they become more extensive and cause more damage. In fact, DIAGNOdent can even detect tooth decay that still lies beneath the tooth surface and may not be detectable with digital X-rays. When the decay is treated early, we are able to provide a more conservative restoration that causes less discomfort, is less expensive and preserves more of your natural tooth structure.

Frequently Asked Questions About DIAGNOdent™ Laser Cavity Detection

How does DIAGNOdent change the way checkups are planned for McLean patients?

DIAGNOdent gives a numeric score for each tooth, so we can spot trend lines—stable, improving, or creeping upward—between visits. In McLean, that means more personalized recall intervals: if your numbers stay low, we can keep you on routine cleanings; if a site inches up, we target that spot with varnish, sealants, or home-care tweaks instead of jumping straight to drilling. You get data-driven care, fewer surprises, and a plan that fits your risk level rather than a one-size-fits-all schedule.

Can it help teens and adults in Falls Church or Vienna who wear braces or aligners?

Yes. Brackets, wires, and aligner attachments create plaque traps where early demineralization can start. DIAGNOdent scans around these areas without discomfort, even when hardware makes traditional probing awkward. For Falls Church and Vienna patients, we use readings to fine-tune hygiene coaching, add targeted fluoride or calcium-phosphate treatments, and decide whether a white-spot lesion can remineralize or needs a microinvasive approach. It’s a smart companion to orthodontics, keeping enamel on track during treatment and after debonding.

Does DIAGNOdent matter if my issue is wear, not sugar?

Bruxism creates micro-cracks and thin enamel, which can demineralize even with a low-sugar diet. For Great Falls patients who clench or grind, DIAGNOdent helps us monitor vulnerable fissures and cusp tips where wear and acid meet. If scores rise, we may prescribe a nightguard, adjust diet/acid exposure, and reinforce enamel with varnish or prescription toothpaste before a cavity forms. It links bite protection with prevention of decay rather than treating them as separate problems.

How does it help Dunn Loring parents decide between “watch,” sealant, or filling?

Kids’ molars have deep grooves that can look stained yet be sound. DIAGNOdent differentiates cosmetic stain from subsurface demineralization. In Dunn Loring, we pair the number with a visual exam:

  • low score + stain = monitor
  • moderate score = sealant with fluoride
  • high score with softness = conservative restoration

This avoids overtreatment while preventing small lesions from becoming bigger, saving chair time, cost, and healthy enamel.

Can DIAGNOdent monitor the edges of older fillings without removing them?

That’s a key advantage. The laser can flag fluorescence changes at margins of fillings and crowns, where recurrent decay often hides. Arlington and Fairfax patients appreciate that we can baseline each restoration, then compare at future visits. If readings stay stable, we keep watching; if they trend upward alongside clinical signs, we intervene sooner and more frequently. It’s a minimally invasive dentistry guided by numbers, not guesswork.

Are there limits or safety concerns for Annandale patients (pregnancy, radiation, false alarms)?

DIAGNOdent is non-ionizing and safe during pregnancy; there’s no radiation. Like any tool, it’s adjunctive: we calibrate on clean, dry teeth and interpret numbers with X-rays and clinical exam to reduce false positives (like heavy stain). For Annandale residents, that means comfortable, repeatable scans that enhance—rather than replace—standard diagnostics, leading to clear decisions you can trust.

The DIAGNOdent laser cavity detection system has been shown to be 90% accurate — one of the most accurate cavity detection systems now available. For more information about DIAGNOdent and the other types of diagnostic technology we use at our office, we invite you to call or visit us today.