If a Diagnodent reading is above 30, what does it indicate?

A Diagnodent reading above 30 typically indicates the presence of significant dental caries that may require intervention. The Diagnodent system is a laser fluorescence tool used in dentistry to help detect and quantify carious lesions. Readings in this range suggest that there is a considerable amount of demineralized tooth structure that is likely beyond the reparative capacity of remineralization, indicating the need for restorative treatment such as a filling or crown.

Lower readings would generally suggest less severe conditions, where monitoring or no action might suffice, while readings above 30 clearly point to a threshold where the decay is substantial enough to necessitate readiness for restoration to prevent further damage and to maintain dental health. Therefore, a reading above this threshold is a critical indicator for dentists in making treatment decisions.