CarieScan PRO - Using the PRO

Perform any cross-infection precautions normally taken in your clinic.

To ensure the accuracy of the detection of dental caries, the following steps must be taken prior to any measurements:

• Remove any intra-oral removable appliances.
• Clean all tooth surfaces to remove any plaque: Occlusal and free smooth surfaces should ideally be cleaned with a tooth brush or a prophylaxis brush and water.  If toothpaste or prophylaxis paste is used care must be taken to ensure it is all removed prior to making a measurement in order to avoid false readings.
• Isolate the tooth to be measured and those in the immediate vicinity using cotton-wool rolls and a saliva ejector.

1. Use the Tufted Sensor for measurement of occlusal and accessible smooth surfaces only.
2. Open the blister pack by peeling off the Tyvek lid.
3. After taking suitable cross-infection precautions hold the CarieScan with the display facing you and push the Tufted Sensor onto the CarieScan PRO with the tuft facing away from you, locating it with a click.
4. Care must be taken if any plastic sheathing is used for cross-infection control purposes. Ensure that it does not prevent electrical contact between the end of the CarieScan PRO and the contacts inside the sensors.
5. The Occlusal icon  and Smooth surface icon  will both be shown.
6. Ensure the surface of the tooth to be measured is free from any plaque and debris.
7. With the Soft Tissue Contact attached, push the angled plug of the soft tissue cable into the socket at the side of the CarieScan PRO.
8. Gently place the curled end of the Soft Tissue Contact over the lower lip of the patient.
9. Dry the site to be measured for 5 seconds with a 3-in-1 syringe to remove any pooled fluid.


Note
Drying time is based on standard air pressure of 40psi.

 



10. Press the Enter button  to start measuring.
11. The blue LED on the pyramid will flash indicating that the CarieScan PRO is in measurement mode.
12. Place the sensor firmly onto the chosen occlusal or smooth surface and a measurement will automatically be taken.  During the measurement 4 audible tones will be heard before data is displayed.
13. On completion of the measurement the result is presented by a further sequence of (number) beeps and the colour pyramid classification will light displaying the caries detection level, as described in Displays in Detail.

14. At this point the sensor tuft can be removed from the tooth surface and the result will remain visible on the displays until the next tooth measurement is detected.

Note:   If there is a bad connection or improper site preparation the CarieScan PRO may not provide a measurement value.

15. Record the last result as required and select another site to measure.
16. Should the sensor become contaminated or waterlogged, you should replace the sensor with a new one before continuing. 
17. The Measurement mode (ReadyScan) will automatically restart after 3 seconds, and the CarieScan PRO will detect when the sensor is on a tooth.
18. Take a new measurement by returning to step 9. (Further drying may not be necessary if repeating measurements on the same site.)
19. Terminate the measurement process by pressing any button on the Keypad for about 1s.
20. When measurements on the patient are complete:
21. To remove the sensor from the CarieScan PRO, squeeze the sensor on the side grips to release the catch and remove from the device. 
22. All sensors must be disposed as sharp contaminated waste. All such waste must be placed in a suitable receptacle marked as biohazard, conforming to the required regulations.
23. The CarieScan PRO and Soft Tissue Cable should be wiped down with alcohol-based wipes.