The CariScreen Test
Dr Kois & Dr Kutsch
The CariScreen ATP Test is a quick and effective screening tool that assesses a patients’ susceptibility for caries.
Screening the biofilm provides a valuable bacterial assessment that enhances any comprehensive examination. The 30 second chair-side test is simple to do. Simply take one of the special CariScreen swabs and wipe it across the enamel surface of several teeth.
It’s that easy!
Bacterial testing is not new to dentistry however previous culturing techniques would often take 48 hours or more. The delay associated with this type of test didn’t meet the general needs of private practice.
The relationship between Streptococcus mutans and caries is not absolute†. Relatively high proportions of Streptococcus mutans may persist on tooth surfaces without caries progression while caries may develop in the absence of these species^.
ATP bioluminescence technology is globally used to assess bacteria within many industries and has been specifically adapted to meet the rigorous needs of dentistry. Dental researchers have proven this to be highly predictive test,* meeting the time restraints of dental offices.
The CariScreen ATP Test is the first screening tool that assesses dental caries as a complex biofilm disease.
* ATP bioluminescence: quantitative assessment of plaque bacteria surrounding orthodontic appliances.
Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA; R Sauerwein, P Pellegrini, T Finlayson, J Kimmell, I Kasimi, D Covell Jr, T Maier, C Machida.
† Caries Research, Changing paradigms in concepts on dental caries: Consequences for oral health care.
O Fejerskov, Royal Dental College, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
^ Oral microbiology. 3nd rev. ed. London: Chapman and Hall.
Marsh PD, Martin MV (1992).
