One way to prevent cavities or gingivitis is by regulating the diet and eliminating foods that favor the generation of tooth cavity-causing bacteria. A more radical option though is simply to remove such bacteria from the mouth. It seems that despite the use of toothbrushes, toothpastes and abrasive instruments, the problem remains largely unresolved. The creators of the Bulgarian device claim that lack of good results arises from that the mouth is cleaned without giving special attention to zones where dental plaque bacteria accumulate.

Engineer Dimitar Roshkev, member of the team that developed the dental plaque detector, explains:

“If we can detect such zones and can see the film of bacteria in the mouth we can easily clean the mouth properly or ask our dentist to do so. When bacteria are properly cleansed the risk of cavities and gum disease is cut radically. To make bacteria visible sources of light are used. They generate light in the remote violet area and as light comes across bacteria it causes them to fluoresce and become visible. A safe, convenient device like a small torch detects them and makes cleansing absolutely effective.”

In what way is the detector better than tablets and solutions available on the market?

“When we use tablets the colorants for bacteria identification are aniline dyes that actually dye all proteins and do not fix zones where bacteria accumulate.”

According to engineer Roshkev the use of the personal detector is a good method to prevent cavities and gum disease. The new device is the product of joint efforts of engineers, dentists and professors from dental medicine faculties in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv. Its technology is not new, but it is for the first time that a relatively inexpensive tool for checking oral hygiene has been developed.  

“It will be useful, because many patients do not brush their teeth the right way and damage the enamel. Also, there are patients who are more prone to cavities and for them the device is great. In any case such a device will enjoy good market demand”, says Dr Mitova running a dental surgery in Sofia.

What about the common fear from visiting the dentist?  

“Leading dental surgeries treat their patients without much blood or pain, using anesthetics and laser equipment”, engineer Roshkev goes on to say. “In fact, we as patients should require laser equipment treatment that minimizes blood and pain. I think that the question of painless and bloodless treatment is already solved. Now we have to do more about prevention.”