08 May 2025

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Dental Startup CaviSense Develops Toothpick Device to Detect Early Caries

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The new CaviSense Toothpick helps detect signs of early-stage cavities and has proven useful in traditional dental clinics as well as mobile operations as both a screening tool used during non-x-ray visits as well as a monitoring tool used in evaluating the effectiveness of remineralization treatments.

Founded by Gili Naveh, DMD, MSc, PhD, CaviSense, Inc is a dental technology startup born in the labs of Harvard and Tuft Universities.  The CaviSense Toothpick is the first product developed by the company run by Dr. Naveh, a practicing orthodontist and scientist. 

As a screening tool during non-x-ray visits, CaviSense suggests using four toothpicks per patient (one toothpick per one interproximal area).

• For young children: test the interproximal areas between the first and second molars.
• For older children & adults: The company recommends you focus on the mesial aspect of the most distal molars that have been in the mouth for at least six months. 

By integrating this screening protocol, clinicians can identify areas of concern in a timely manner allowing them to provide prevention-focused, minimally invasive care, CaviSense stated. When catching caries earlier, dentists can potentially treat and reverse any damage without having to drill out the area and put in a filling.

A positive CaviSense Toothpick test often leads to:

• Additional oral hygiene instructions
• More frequent dental visits
• Additional x-rays
• Identification of incipient lesions / application of remineralization agents
• Identification of early-stage cavities requiring less-complex restorations 

As a monitoring tool of teeth treated with remineralization agents—Curodont (vVardis), silver diamine fluoride, iodine, etc.—CaviSense suggests testing each tooth surface previously treated with the remineralization agent during the recall visit.  A negative CaviSense Toothpick will indicate a successful treatment.  A positive CaviSense Toothpick would indicate a need to reapply, the company explains.

In addition to helping produce better oral care outcomes, the company adds that CaviSense can create substantially better financial outcomes for your clinic.

Source: https://cavisense.com/