Told "you're fine" one time and "you have a cavity" the next — you didn't know which to believe.
Now red fluorescence lets
you see it with your own eyes and decide.
Seongmo Dental Clinic operates the Q-ray system (QraycamPro, Qray Pen, Qscan Plus), which uses quantitative light-induced fluorescence technology. When a harmless blue light is shone on a tooth, areas with high bacterial activity glow red, letting us show you hidden problems right in front of your eyes.
Sungshin Univ. Seongmo Dental Clinic Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (Q-ray)
We prove problems you couldn't see, in red light. A diagnosis free of overtreatment starts with looking together.
Sungshin Univ. dental Q-ray —
what does it actually detect?
Q-ray captures and analyzes the fluorescent response that appears when a specific-wavelength blue light is shone on a tooth. Areas with high bacterial activity and demineralized tooth tissue show up as red fluorescence, revealing early problems easily missed by the naked eye or X-ray.
The challenge in dental diagnosis is that early problems don't show up on the surface. X-rays are good for seeing cavities or bone conditions that have already progressed significantly, but they struggle to catch early surface demineralization or fine cracks.
Seongmo Dental Clinic introduced the Q-ray system to make up for this limitation. Shining a harmless blue light causes only the problem areas to glow red, showing you the hidden cause directly with your own eyes.
Q-ray Core Technology
Early Detection of Initial Cavities
Diagnosing Hidden Secondary Cavities
Detecting Fine Cracks
Detecting Gum and Peri-Implant Inflammation
Transparent Care You See Together With Us
Q-ray, which finds even problems you can't see, is Seongmo Dental Clinic's commitment to honest diagnosis without overtreatment.
Early and Secondary Cavities —
why are they so easy to miss?
Early cavities are at the stage where minerals are leaching out beneath the surface, so there's barely any visible color change, and secondary cavities are hidden under a prosthetic, making them hard to read even on X-ray. Fluorescence analysis reveals the difference in bacterial activity in these areas as color.
A cavity doesn't appear suddenly — it begins as acid produced by bacteria slowly leaches minerals out of the tooth surface. Catching it at this stage leaves room to reverse it with management instead of removing tooth structure.
Seongmo Dental Clinic records Q-ray images and compares them under the same conditions at your next checkup. Being able to confirm progression with data lets us separate what to watch from what to treat, instead of defaulting to "let's just fill it."
Criteria for Watching Without Drilling
When We Watch
When We Treat
When Deciding on Prosthetic Remake
Knowing exactly when to treat is the way to remove the least amount of tooth structure.
Unexplained Sensitivity —
Even Cracks and Gum Inflammation
Q-ray can also detect bacterial activity around a tooth crack and inflammation around gums or implants through fluorescence, helping find the cause of pain that photos and X-rays alone couldn't explain.
Sensitivity only when chewing, or pain when force is applied in a specific direction, can indicate a fine crack. The crack itself often doesn't show up well in photos, but if bacteria settle into the crack, the fluorescence response can offer a clue.
Seongmo Dental Clinic also uses 3D CT and T-scan occlusal analysis alongside this. Checking whether excessive occlusal force is being applied to a suspected cracked tooth lets us plan management of the underlying cause as well.
Diagnostic Equipment Used Together
3D CT (HDX Dentri)
T-scan Digital Occlusal Analysis
EMS Powder Cleaning
The cause of pain is usually revealed not by a single device, but by a combination of data.
Worried About Overtreatment —
It Disappears When You See the Screen With Us
Seongmo Dental Clinic explains why treatment is needed while viewing Q-ray fluorescence images together on a monitor, and keeps records to compare changes at your next checkup.
The moment patients feel most uneasy is when they can't verify something even after hearing an explanation. Fluorescence images let you distinguish red areas from normal areas without any specialized knowledge, giving the explanation something to point to.
Because Q-ray doesn't use radiation, repeat imaging for follow-up carries little burden. Located near Exit 2 of Sungshin Women's University Station, Seongmo Dental Clinic has built up diagnostic records through comprehensive dentistry specialist care since opening in 1998.
Diagnostic Process
01 — Fluorescence Imaging
02 — Reviewing Together
03 — Treatment Plan & Record
Only an accurate diagnosis prevents overtreatment and makes exactly the treatment you need possible.
Conventional Diagnosis vs. Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence
| COMPARISON | Visual/X-Ray Alone | Seongmo Dental Clinic with Q-ray |
|---|---|---|
| EARLY CAVITIES | Hard to detect before color change | Early detection via fluorescence |
| Secondary Cavities | Reading limited, hidden by prosthetic | Fluorescence check around prosthetic |
| Fine Crack | Doesn't show well on imaging | Checks bacterial activity around crack |
| Gums/Implants | Mainly probing/X-ray | Fluorescence check of inflamed area |
| RADIATION | Exposure during imaging | None (Visible Light) |
| Patient Explanation | Mainly verbal explanation | Explained with shared images |
Q-ray doesn't replace conventional diagnosis — it complements it, and the final diagnosis is made by combining clinical examination and imaging.
Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence — Glossary
- Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF)
- A technology that checks and quantifies tooth demineralization and bacterial activity based on fluorescence differences produced by light of a specific wavelength.
- Demineralization
- The early cavity stage where minerals like calcium and phosphorus leach out of the tooth surface.
- Secondary Cavities
- Decay that progresses again around or beneath an existing prosthetic or filling.
- Fine Crack
- A thin crack in a tooth. Can cause a sharp pain when chewing.
- Peri-Implantitis
- Inflammation of the gum/bone around an implant. Pain is minimal, so early detection matters.
- Fluoride Application
- A preventive treatment that helps remineralize early demineralized areas.
Sungshin Univ. Q-ray Diagnosis — FAQ
Does the Q-ray exam involve radiation?
Q-ray is a fluorescence imaging method that uses blue visible light and doesn't use radiation. It also carries little burden for monitoring progress through repeat imaging.
Is it painful or time-consuming?
It works by shining light on the teeth and imaging them, so there's no pain and no anesthesia needed. The imaging itself is quick.
Does that mean I don't need X-rays?
No. Fluorescence analysis shows surface and bacterial activity information, while X-ray/3D CT show internal and bone information, so they complement each other. Seongmo Dental Clinic uses both together to make a judgment.
If it shows red, do I have to be treated no matter what?
Red fluorescence is a signal of possible bacterial activity or demineralization, but it isn't a treatment order by itself. We look at surface condition, depth, symptoms, and progression together to separate what to watch from what to treat.
Can it also be used for children's checkups?
Since it's radiation-free and painless, it's very useful even for pediatric checkups where cooperation can be difficult. That said, X-rays are added when necessary.
How much does the exam cost?
The exam items and scope depend on the treatment. Non-covered items can be checked on Seongmo Dental Clinic's Fee Guide page, and we'll let you know after diagnosis.
References — Authoritative Medical Sources
Related Treatment Info
- All Advanced Equipment (Sungshin Univ.)
- Seongmo Special Care · Saving Natural Teeth
- General Dentistry · Cavities/Root Canal/Scaling
- Implants (Sungshin Univ.)
- Same-Day Restorations (Seongbuk-gu)
- Non-Covered Fee Guide
Results of any dental treatment can vary with individual oral condition, and whether a device applies depends on the case. Treatment method should be decided after a precise diagnosis and thorough consultation with your provider.