Abstract
The electric caries-detecting meter (Caries-meter) is widely used to diagnose caries regions of teeth. In our clinic, we have developed a system of diagnostic procedure ranging extensively from prevention to endodontic treatment of deep caries, by basically utilizing the caries-meter (Caries-meter-A).
In this report we clinically tested the newly designed caries-meter-L which is handy and specially designed to indicate the four levels of electrical impedance by different colors of light. The comparison was made between the actual value of electrical impedance measured by an analogue type cariesmeter (Caries-meter-A), and the level of color shown by Caries-meter-L.
The results of the clinical test were as follows:
1) As for the rate of coincidence of the indication of light to the range of electrical impedance, the green (over 600 kΩ) area was 100 percent, the yellow (251-599 kΩ) area was 88 percent, the orange (18.1-250 kΩ) area was 99 percent, and the red (under 18.0 kΩ) area was 100 percent. The actual electrical impedance in the disaccordant cases approximated the maximum and minimum values which were set up corresponding each color light.
2) There were 4 cases with simultaneous lighting of two adjacent lamps. The electrical impedance in these cases showed the approximate value to the borderline value which was set up corresponding to each light.
3) Together with the fact that this newly designed caries-meter is handled without difficulty, from the results of this study indicating high accordance between the indication of the lighting color and electrical impedance, it may be concluded that the Caries-meter-L is shown to be practical for clinical use.
