Microlux Transilluminator

Fiber Optic Caries Detection Device

Fiber optic technology enhances transillumination caries detection with the Microlux Transilluminator.

AdDent’s Microlux Transilluminator aids in the detection of posterior and anterior caries, calculus, and cracks/fractures. It also can be used to observe the progression of caries lesions and to help locate the root canal orifice.

A fiber optic light guide (available in 2 mm and 3 mm) focuses the unit’s high-output LED light for optimal visualization. The battery-powered unit is designed to be wiped down, and the autoclavable light guide also can be wiped down or cold- or heatsterilized. Protective sleeves are available.

Caries Detection

To visualize anterior caries, the clinician places the probe on the labio-cervical region of the tooth and examines from the lingual with a mouth mirror. Posterior proximal caries are visualized by placing the probe on the bucco-cervical area; light passes into the cervical region and then radiates occlusally. Of the 11 dentists and hygienists who participated in this evaluation of the Microlux Transilluminator, 10 rated its ability to detect caries. One evaluator rated this feature as excellent, 2 as very good, 6 as good, and 1 as fair. Of the evaluators who reported using another caries detection device within the past year, 1 said the Microlux “seemed to work just as well” and another said the other device “seems a bit more predictable.” One evaluator suggested “an audible beep for caries detection” and another said, “You still need a PA for low-positioned caries.”

Ease of Use

When asked about ease of use of the Microlux Transilluminator, 6 rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator called it “very easy,” and another called it “easy after I got the hang of it.” A third evaluator said the interchangeable components “attach and detach easily.”

The 2 evaluators who commented on ease of sterilization, rated as excellent by 5 and as very good to good by 6, said “no problem” and “slight additional time was needed to clean the mirror.”

Handpiece

Size and weight of the Microlux Transilluminator handpiece was rated as excellent by 7 evaluators and as very good by 4. Comments ranged from “easy to handle” and “very lightweight” to “I like the width but it’s slightly top-heavy.” One evaluator said, “It’s a little heavy for consistent use, but if I use it intermittently (for example, I love to use it when I probe) I can see so much better!”

When asked about ergonomics, rated as excellent by 4 evaluators and as very good by 7, 1 evaluator said the mirror head “bent just right.”

Overall Satisfaction

Overall satisfaction with the Microlux Transilluminator was rated as very good by 6 evaluators, as good by 4, and as fair by 1. One evaluator commented that “everyone wanted to try it!” and one hygienist said, “My dentist kept taking it out of my room. She said she wouldn’t mind owning one.”

Another dentist commented on the instrument's ability to locate root canals. "I had 2 calcified canals I was having a difficult time locating, and the Microlux helped me identify and locate the position of both canals very quickly and precisely. It is bright enough to shine through the buccal and palatal tissue to illuminate the root."

Comments about patient comfort/ reaction, rated as excellent by 9 evaluators and as very good or good by 2, ranged from “not noticed” to “loved the technology/science” and “[patients] loved that I was trying something new.”

When asked about perceived value to the practice, 1 evaluator rated it as excellent, 9 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as fair. One evaluator found it “very useful for finding endo canals and fractures for insurance photos.” Another evaluator said, “I love it! Every practice should have at least 1!”