Device for the detection of non-cavitated early dental caries lesions

1. A device for detecting non-cavitated dental caries lesions in a human patient, in the absence of visible enamel breaching or visible enamel mineral loss, comprising: a measuring electrode having an electrically conductive tip, said tip being dimensionally configured to fit within and contact the bottom of a dental fissure and provide electrical contact only with any dentinal fluid at the bottom of the fissure, and said conductive tip comprising a shaft and a taper portion at an angle with the shaft, the taper portion having a progressively reduced diameter tip portion to provide a pointed tip for penetration into a fissure and contact with any dentinal fluid at the bottom of the fissure; a reference electrode, the reference electrode being configured for electrical contact with the patient's body; and measuring means for determining electrical resistance between the measuring electrode and the reference electrode thereby detecting non-cavitated dental caries lesions in the absence of visible enamel breaching or visible enamel mineral loss, wherein the device is further configured to receive a current source for providing electrical current between the measuring electrode and the reference electrode and wherein the device detects a non-cavitated dental caries lesion when an electrical resistance of between 600,000 and 22,000,000 ohms is measured.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising means for regulating said electrical current not to exceed 10 μA.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to signal electrical contact of the measuring electrode with dentinal fluid.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein said signal is auditory.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first timing circuit configured to display said measured electrical resistance for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a second timing circuit, configured to register said measured electrical resistance after a predetermined period of continuous contact between the measuring electrode and dentinal fluid.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring electrode includes an electrically insulated handle and an electrically conductive tip.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shaft of said electrically conductive tip of the measuring electrode has a length of 20 to 40 mm and a diameter of 1.0 to 2.0 mm and said taper portion has a length of 6.0 to 9.0 mm.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the shaft and the taper portion are at a 90° angle to each other.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the taper portion has a diameter of 0.2 to 0.4 mm and the tip portion tapers to a point over a length of 1.6 to 2.0 mm.

11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the conductive tip comprises stainless steel.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reference electrode is configured for electrically conductive contact with a body surface.

13. The device of claim 3 , wherein the indicator is configured to signal electrical contact at predetermined intervals.

14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a storage medium capable of receiving and storing electrical resistance data from said measuring means.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive tip is attached to a measuring probe by a knurl-type locking means that enables adjustment of a protrusion of the electrically conductive tip from the measuring probe.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive tip is attached to a measuring probe by a contact spring to provide electrical communication between the electrically conductive tip and the measuring probe.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the electrical conductive tip is co-axially stiffened.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pointed tip has a diameter of between 0.03 and 0.06 mm.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein said pointed tip has a diameter of between 0.04 and 0.06 mm.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein said pointed tip has a diameter of between 0.03 and 0.05 mm.

21. The device of claim 2 , wherein the current source is a 9 volt battery.

22. The device of claim 21 , further comprising means for regulating the current not to exceed 10 μA.

23. A method for detecting non-cavitated dental caries lesions in the absence of visible enamel breaching or visible enamel mineral loss in a human patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing a reference electrode of a device for electrically conductive contact with a patient's body and providing a measuring electrode having an electrically conductive tip, said tip being dimensionally configured to fit within and contact the bottom of a dental fissure and provide electrical contact only with any dentinal fluid at the bottom of the fissure, and said tip comprising a shaft and a taper portion at an angle with the shaft, the taper portion having a progressively reduced diameter tip portion to provide a pointed tip for penetration into a fissure and contact any dentinal fluid at the bottom of the fissure; contacting the tip of the measuring electrode within and at the bottom of a dental fissure; providing electrical current by said device between the measuring electrode and the reference electrode; and determining electrical resistance by said device between the measuring electrode and the reference electrode and thereby detecting a non-cavitated dental caries lesion when said electrical resistance is between 600,000 and 22,000,000 ohms.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising means for regulating the electrical current not to exceed 10 μA.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of signaling electrical contact of the measuring electrode with the dentinal fluid.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the electrically conductive tip provides electrical contact with dentinal fluid present within said fissure after surface air drying of said patient's tooth and in the absence of introduction of a conducting fluid to said patient's tooth.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the pointed tip has a diameter of between 0.03 and 0.06 mm.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said pointed tip has a diameter of between 0.04 and 0.06 mm.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said pointed tip has a diameter of between 0.03 and 0.05 mm.