Caries remains the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide, yet it is one of the most preventable. For decades, clinicians have relied on radiographs and visual-tactile exams to identify carious lesions, often discovering them only after restorative intervention is required. But what if hygienists and dentists could identify demineralization in its earliest stages—before it ever appeared on an x-ray?
That’s the promise of BlueCheck, an award-winning innovation from Incisive Technologies that recently received a 2025 Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Award. The impact of this simple, chairside detection tool is already making an impact for many clinicians, including Sarah Crow, RDH, a care provider who is past president of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association.
At its core, BlueCheck is a paint-on, rinse-off aid for diagnosis. It uses a proprietary biomolecule that selectively binds to porous enamel undergoing active demineralization, resulting in a distinct blue stain that highlights areas of concern—literally making invisible disease visible.
For clinicians, the application is seamless. “After the prophy, I simply paint it on, rinse it off, and then just evaluate,” Crow explains. “There’s no real special learning curve. The blue color does the work for you. It doesn’t really add any meaningful chair time. In fact, it makes detection so straightforward that it frees up more time to focus on education and prevention strategies with patients, which is certainly my favorite part.”
One of the greatest strengths of BlueCheck is its ability to transform patient communication. While radiographs remain essential, they can be difficult for patients to interpret. Seeing a blue spot on their own tooth, however, is immediate and undeniable.
“It’s one thing to talk about early decay, but when you see it show up in blue, it clicks,” Crow says. “It kind of opens the door for education on preventive treatments. Most importantly, it reassures them that we’re catching these issues before they become big problems.”
This visualization not only builds trust but also supports a prevention-focused model of care. With early detection, clinicians can confidently recommend remineralization therapies and lifestyle modifications instead of defaulting to a drill-and-fill approach.
While dental professionals are familiar with disclosing solutions and other detection materials, BlueCheck’s specificity is what sets it apart. Traditional methods can sometimes over-highlight or create false positives. BlueCheck, by contrast, binds only to active demineralization.
“BlueCheck is different from other caries detection materials because it doesn’t just flag everything,” Crow adds. “It will specifically bind to active porous enamel, so that means that it’s highlighting the areas that truly need attention. It’s more sensitive than traditional methods at picking up demineralization long before we’re going to see it on an x-ray. Because it’s visual, it brings both the clinician and the patient together into the diagnostic process.”
And for those concerned about staining, the blue is temporary. Once the evaluation is complete, the color is easily removed in seconds.
For Crow, BlueCheck represents more than just another tool—it symbolizes a shift in dentistry’s mindset.
“We don’t have to watch and wait anymore. We don’t have to default to drill and fill. With technologies like BlueCheck, we can detect earlier, educate patients, remineralize, and heal,” she says. “As someone who believes prevention is the future of dentistry, I see this innovation as elevating our profession and building healthier, more trusting relationships with our patients and with our colleagues.”
With its simplicity, clinical utility, and patient-friendly visualization, BlueCheck is not just a tool for detection—it’s a catalyst for a more prevention-focused future in dentistry.
Incisive Technologies
www.incisive-technologies.com
Figures and Images
BlueCheck
