The ergonomic, high-intensity Microlux 2 Transilluminator offers greater visualization to assist in diagnosis and treatment planning.
No dentist would want to turn away help in visualizing caries, crown fractures, root fractures, or root canal orifice. That is why our evaluators were eager to try AdDent’s Microlux 2 Transilluminator, which includes new features requested by dentists who used the original model.
After Dr. Roger Urlaub used the Microlux 2 almost daily in his restorative cases and in clinical hygiene exams for this product evaluation, he was pleased to report that the device is very lightweight and slender, and offers continuous illumination with dual light intensities and easy access to all areas of the mouth. He said the Microlux 2 was sometimes more reliable than exposing radiographs, and made it easier to determine the penetration extent of carious lesions. He added that it was also very helpful for seeing recurrent caries.
The redesigned Microlux 2 is more ergonomic than the first model and includes many new features such as an easy-to-use push button control, dual intensity operation, and other improvements. Overall, the dentists who evaluated this device were impressed with its superb illumination along with its user-friendliness, light weight, and portability.
Ergonomics and Ease of Access to Oral Cavity
With its slim design and one-finger operation, the Microlux 2 is portable, easy to handle, and allows for easy access to the oral cavity, according to AdDent. Our evaluators confirmed this claim, with Dr. Zach Korwin calling the unit lightweight and easy to use, and Dr. Edward Lew sharing, “The great thing about this product is its ease of use and [it’s] very accessible.”
When asked about improvements, Dr. Mariam Vaziri recommended adding a camera to the tip, and Dr. Luke Petersen suggested that a stand or tray would help to set it down and keep it stable and sterile. Regarding accessibility, Dr. Jonathan Dubin said the Microlux 2 was easily and rapidly introduced into the oral cavity, and was easy to place at a particular tooth. Several dentists were pleased that the device worked well on children. X-ray sensors or bite wings are often too large for a child’s mouth, and the Microlux eliminates the need to take x-rays in some cases.
Illumination and Caries Detection
The Microlux 2 provided “a direct light source right where it was needed,” shared Dr. Greene, who said it helped visualize hard-to-see areas and highlight cracks in teeth. The Microlux 2 comes with either a 2 or 3mm light guide, and accepts all existing Microlux autoclaveable attachments. The device has two high-intensity output levels. In one case, Dr. Greene wanted to confirm that a deep pocket between Nos. 14 and 15 was completely cleaned out, and found, “Shining the light in the area lit the area up beautifully.”
Dr. Dubin discovered, “The light probe is easily maneuvered to reveal cracks and some caries,” and Dr. Christiane Rothwangl said, “Tooth fractures were easily visible using the Microlux.” Dr. Lew found that the Microlux 2 is a great adjunct to detect caries when x-rays are nonconclusive, and he mentioned that this is a very cost-effective solution for an office that does not have any caries detection devices. Dr. Urlaub said he used it to view how close he was to the pulp chamber and pulp horns in a very deep carious lesion, and determined that it is “excellent for detecting cracks/craze lines in teeth.” He also said, “It can be used to check for residual calculus supra and subgingivally, especially in the anteriors, and it would be useful in pulp canal detection during endo.”
Accessories and Patient Reaction
The Microlux 2 has several different accessory light guides and attachments available which are designed for different applications, including mirrors, a proximal tip, a perio tip, an endo tip, and a DL light guide for oral cancer screening. Dr. Sara Ghaem Maghami said the accessories were easy to attach, while Dr. Dubin mentioned that the accessory tip felt a little loose when attached.
Either as a stand-alone or by using one of the Microlux 2 accessories, the Transilluminator has enormous potential as an indispensable tool in diagnosis and treatment planning in all areas of dentistry. “It was an excellent tool for patient education,” shared Dr. Rothwangl, who said it was easier to give the patient a mirror than to take intraoral photos. “Patients really liked it,” she noted. Dr. Rothwangl described a situation where she had been recommending treatment to a patient for over a year. With the Microlux 2, she was able to really illuminate the patient’s tooth and show him the craze lines. “Immediately after seeing the illuminated tooth, he was ready to proceed with treatment.”
Overall Satisfaction
Many of the evaluators chose to purchase the Microlux 2 after the evaluation period was finished, including Dr. Dubin, who found that the light saved time in diagnosis and, in some instances, the light eliminated the need for a radiograph. “Nothing compares to this item,” concluded Dr. Urlaub, and Dr. Greene acknowledged, “I did not realize what I did not see until I started using this product. It is now part of my exam routine.”
