How do I switch the CarieScan PRO on?

Press the 'CANCEL' button. See Keypad in Detail

How do I switch the CarieScan PRO off?

Press and hold the 'CANCEL' button until the display shows 'BYE'. See Keypad in Detail

Why is the blue LED on all time the CarieScan PRO unit is in the charger?

This indicates that the CarieScan PRO battery is charging.

How many times does the unit beep before it takes a successful determination?

During the measurement, the unit will beep 4 times at intervals of 1 second followed by the result. See Displays in Detail

Will the patient feel anything?

No.

Will the user feel anything?

No.

What are the contraindications?

The CarieScan PRO should not be used on patients with cardiac pacemakers fitted.
The CarieScan PRO cannot be used to assess:

• Interproximal sites
• Secondary caries
• The integrity of a restoration
• Dental root caries
• The depth of an excavation within a cavity preparation

The CarieScan PRO should not be used when tooth surfaces are covered with an excess of plaque and / or other debris. Ensure the teeth are cleaned and excess plaque removed.

What is the recommended cleaning procedure for the PRO?

The CarieScan PRO and Cable should be wiped down with alcohol-based wipes regularly. Acetone based solvents will damage many plastics. Use iso-propanol based solvents, or similar.

Can I put it in the autoclave?

No. Only the lip hook is suitable to be autoclaved.

How do I prepare the tooth?

See Using the PRO

Should I prepare a single tooth at a time?

A quadrant can be prepared, although the user should be careful the next tooth to be measured is dry before taking a measurement. See Using the PRO

How long do I need to dry a tooth for?

Dry the tooth for 5 seconds to remove any pooled fluid using a standard practice air line. If the tooth is not dried adequately, the results may be variable.

I’m a trained dentist, why do you think I need one of these?

No matter how experienced or skilled a practitioner may be, it is not always possible to overcome the limitations of the human eye in the field of dentistry. See References

Can the CarieScan PRO be used on pregnant patients?

Yes. The CarieScan PRO does not use ionising radiation.

What do the numbers mean?

See Displays in Detail

What do all the beeps at start up mean?

At every startup the CarieScan PRO performs a series of internal tests to confirm the measurement circuit is operating correctly.

Can I use CarieScan PRO for a tooth where other surfaces are filled?

Yes, the sensor measures the characteristics of the tooth structure beneath it and restorations on other surfaces should not preclude its use on unrestored surfaces.

Can I use CarieScan PRO for a tooth where other surfaces are decayed?

Yes, the sensor measures the characteristics of the tooth structure beneath it and this is not significantly affected by caries in other surfaces.

Can I use CarieScan PRO to detect approximal lesions?

No.

What does the hourglass mean?

The CarieScan PRO is busy. When ready for measuring this will be accompanied by the flashing blue LED.

What do the icons on the screen mean?

See Device Tour.

What are the up and down arrow keys for?

See Keypad in Detail

What’s the cable for?

The cable connects the lip clip to the CarieScan PRO to enable correct measurement.

What do the lights mean?

See Displays in Detail

How do I test the device?

See System Test

What does TSE mean?

The blue Cable Test Adapter is on and the device is waiting to perform the System Test.

How do I calibrate the unit?

The CarieScan PRO is calibrated at production. At every startup the device performs a series of tests to ensure the measurement circuit is operating within specification. The PRO will show 'OK' when all the tests have passed. If the PRO displaysd CFL, please contact the helpline.

I don’t get a reading when I place the sensor on a tooth

See Using the PRO

I am getting RED results all the time on what appear to be sound teeth

Ensure the tooth is dried and prepared as described in the Caries Detection Protocol in the User Manual. See Using the PRO

How can I tell how well charged the battery is, or how long I can expect to use it for?

A low battery indicator icon will appear in status bar of the LCD when the battery charge drops below 20% charge. With full charge the CarieScan PRO will operate for more than 8 hours normal use. The CarieScan PRO will switch itself off after 20 minutes of inactivity.

What do I do if the device won’t charge when placed on the cradle?

• Check that the cradle is plugged in and switched on.
• If the problem persists, please call the helpline.

How do I change the battery?

The unit is sealed and should not be opened. See Charging the PRO.

Will the device work with standard alkaline batteries?

No. The CarieScan PRO has an internal rechargeable battery that is not accessible by the user. See Charging the PRO .

How do I purchase parts?

See Ordering

What’s the accuracy of device?

CarieScan PRO has a sensitivity of greater than 92% and a specificity of over 92%.

See Performance

What's the applied frequency range?

3kHz to 20kHz

How does it work?

See How it Works

What current is applied?

< 5µA

What regulatory approvals have been granted?

CarieScan PRO meets the provision of the Council Directive 93/42/EEC for Medical Devices and the UK Medical Devices Regulations SI 1994/3017.

It has also been tested to and fulfils the following safety standards:

IEC / UL 60601-1 General Requirements for Safety
CSA-C22.2 No 601.1-M90 Part 1 General Requirements for Safety.
EN 60601-1-1:2001 EMC: unintentional transmitters.
47CFR:2002 Part 15 (Subpart B) EMC: unintentional transmitters.
FCC Part 12.247:2005 (Subpart C) Intentional transmitters.

How do I put the sensor onto the PRO?

See Sensor Instructions

How do I remove the sensor from the PRO?

See Sensor Instructions

Can I re-use sensors?

No. The sensors are disposable, for single use only.

Where do I dispose of used sensors?

All sensors must be disposed of as sharp contaminated waste. All such waste must be placed in a suitable receptacle marked as biohazard, conforming to the required regulations.

How do I order more?

See Ordering.

How hard do I press the sensor onto the tooth?

Press the sensor firmly onto the surface to be measured, but not so hard that the tuft becomes splayed.

What surfaces can I measure?

You can measure free smooth (buccal, lingual and palatal) as well as the occlusal surfaces.

How many sensors do I need to buy at a time?

The minimum order for sensors is a box of 40.