HOW DOES CARIES DETECTION DYE WORK?
Caries detection dye is water based substance that works by displacing moisture on the tooth surface and identifying decayed tooth structure and defective enamel. The defective or weakened enamel such as in cases of hypocalcification provide a route for nutrients to get to the bacteria in the tooth and for the decay process to continue. Bacteria are not decay. Decay in dentin is caused by a destruction of collagen. Collagenase, a bi-product of the bacteria is responsible for the displacement of collagen in dentin. The acidic bi-products of bacteria also cause a displacement of calcium in the enamel. Caries detection dye simply identifies the areas where there has been a displacement of calcium and collagen. There are still people who argue that the dye does not stain the bacteria, more specifically Streptococcus mutans. No, indeed it doesn’t. To prove the existence of strep mutans would require a very impractical and expensive series of lab tests. Caries detection dye will disclose evi
