초록 ▼

The invention relates to a method for detecting properties or alterations in at least one semitransparent layer of a body of a tooth by applying light escaping from at least one light guide via the front thereof to the body, as well as for recording at least one area of the body by means of a camera

The invention relates to a method for detecting properties or alterations in at least one semitransparent layer of a body of a tooth by applying light escaping from at least one light guide via the front thereof to the body, as well as for recording at least one area of the body by means of a camera and subsequently assessing the image determined by the sensor. In order to be able to detect alterations or properties with high accuracy and a high image quality, it is proposed to place the front of the light guide on the body in order to subject the body to the light of the light guide.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for detecting alterations on at least one tooth in the dentine and tooth enamel area, comprising: providing at least one light guide and an optical sensor,capturing light escaping from a front surface of the at least one light guide for impinging at least one tooth,recording at least one

1. A method for detecting alterations on at least one tooth in the dentine and tooth enamel area, comprising: providing at least one light guide and an optical sensor,capturing light escaping from a front surface of the at least one light guide for impinging at least one tooth,recording at least one area of the at least one tooth by the by the optical sensor, and subsequently assessing the image or images determined by the optical sensor;wherein, in order to impinge the light from the at least one light guide to the at least one tooth, the from surface of the light guide is placed on the at least one tooth, or positioned at a distance a, with a≦2d and d=light guide core diameter, from the surface of the at least one tooth, such that light reflected by the at least one tooth surface is reflected at least substantially exclusively back into the light guide, and the scattered light escaping from the at least one tooth is measured with the optical sensor. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is adjusted to the body independently of the light guide. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the front of the light guide is positioned at a distance a≦d from to a surface of the body, or the at least one tooth. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the optical axis of the optical sensor is aligned at least almost vertically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tooth. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a main beam direction of the light escaping from the at least one light guide is directed toward the apical side. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the front of the light guide is placed on or aligned with an occlusal boundary area formed by the tooth enamel. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one CMOS, CCD, or InGaAs camera is used as the optical sensor. 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein a microendoscope optic is arranged in front of the optical sensor and is placed on the at least one tooth or is positioned in the direct vicinity of the tooth surface, is arranged in front of the optical sensor. 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein a first measurement is carried out with light applied to an occlusal boundary area behind the tooth alteration, and a second measurement is carried out with light applied to an occlusal marginal ridge in front of the tooth alteration, in order to measure a tooth alteration in an approximal space or for interproximal caries detection. 10. The method according to claim 2, wherein an array of light guides is assigned to the at least one tooth and that one or more light guides of the array are subjected to light having a same wavelength range in order to record or measure the tooth alteration. 11. The method according to claim 2, wherein an array of light guides is assigned to the at least one tooth in that light is simultaneously applied to the light guides of the array in order to record the tooth alteration, wherein into each individual light guide is coupled, having a wavelength range that is different from that of the other light guides. 12. The method according to claim 2, wherein two adjacent teeth are simultaneously measured, wherein at least one light guide is associated with each tooth. 13. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least two light guides are associated with the at least one tooth, wherein one light guide is arranged in front and one light guide is arranged behind the tooth alteration with reference to the optical sensor in an approximal space of the teeth. 14. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least a first image of the at least one tooth with respect to the alteration is recorded with light application in front of the alteration of the at least one tooth or teeth, and at least one second image of the at least one tooth is recorded with light application behind the alteration, and the at least one first image is processed against the at least second image. 15. The method according to claim 2, wherein in order to determine an alteration of the at least one tooth outside an approximal space, at least one light guide is placed on an area of the at least one tooth, or is aligned therewith, and the optical sensor is aligned with the optical axis thereof, substantially orthogonally with respect to the alteration of the at least one tooth. 16. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one tooth is subjected to light having a wavelength range Δλ, in which preferentially light scattering occurs in the tooth enamel. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the body or the at least one tooth is subjected to light in the wavelength range Δλ with 300 nm≦Δλ≦1600 nm. 18. The method according to claim 2, wherein spectral differential measurements are carried out in the dentine in order to image the alteration of the at least one tooth. 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein a CCD camera having an expanded sensitivity range in the infrared wavelength range is used as the optical sensor.