By turning areas of demineralization blue, BlueCheck makes it possible to identify and treat early caries lesions
BlueCheck, Shelley Brown, MEd, BSDH, RDH, can spot early-stage demineralization—giving her patients the chance for less invasive, more affordable regeneration options before cavitation begins.
How? Once applied to clean teeth, BlueCheck reversibly binds to surface and subsurface porosity linked to active caries, turning affected areas blue. This reveals early-stage decay that might not be visible on an x-ray, allowing Brown to take a proactive approach to prevention. Plus, it bolsters patient education, making the invisible suddenly clear.“
Instead of simply explaining why early intervention is necessary, I can show patients demineralized areas in real time,” she said. “This helps them understand the importance of preventive care, which leads to higher acceptance rates for remineralization therapies and fluoride treatments. Patients appreciate having tangible proof of their oral health status and feel more engaged in their treatment plans.”
Brown said adding BlueCheck to her workflow was seamless. “It’s quick to apply as a disclosing solution, easily fitting into the clinical workflow while providing immediate, easy-to-interpret visual feed-back,” she added. “Any areas that turn light blue to dark blue indicate a demineralized area that should be addressed.”
Quick & Easy Detection
Traditional caries-detection methods, such as tactile probing with a dental explorer, are now con-sidered outdated, Brown said, and can potentially disrupt the remineralization process in affected areas.
“BlueCheck offers a noninvasive approach to identifying these areas before they are clinically detectable,” she noted, adding that while imaging-based caries-detection tools are valuable, the average hygiene appointment doesn’t afford enough time to scan every buccal, lingual, and occlusal surface. “BlueCheck streamlines this process, offering a quick and efficient way to assess demineralization across all tooth surfaces.”
Prioritizing Prevention
BlueCheck recently detected decay in one of Brown’s preteen patients who had a high caries risk but wasn’t showing any visible signs of decay.
“The patient had white spot lesions that did not stain blue, indicating that those areas had been remineralized,” she said. “Instead of a restoration, we implemented an intensive remineralization protocol that included SDF, povidone-iodine, xylitol, and pre- and postbiotic use. Cases like this show how BlueCheck enables early detection, proactive prevention, and ongoing monitoring to ensure long-term oral health.”
This targeted approach to prevention enables personalized treatment, while also helping patients clearly see where to focus their home care.
“Prevention is key to reducing the need for future restorations,” Brown added, “and BlueCheck enables us to prioritize and enhance patient care like never before.”
