Plaque location detection in time-resolved fluorescence method and system for plaque detection

A detection method, comprising:

• emitting fluorescence light from a light emitting element on a toothbrush;
• using a step index optical fiber waveguide coupled to the toothbrush and receiving fluorescence light via the step index optical fiber waveguide from a plurality of angles;
• preserving a coupling angle of the fluorescence light within the multimode optical waveguide at at least one reflection event within the multimode optical waveguide;
• using a detector configured to receive the fluorescence light from at least one tooth for detecting plaque, calculus and/or caries and communicating plaque identification information of the at least one tooth based on frequency domain lifetime measurements;
• and
• providing real-time feedback to a user of the toothbrush via a feedback mechanism based on modal dispersion used to detect at least one plaque, calculus and/or caries fluorescence area on the at least one tooth and detecting fluorescence light as it travels along a core of the step index optical fiber waveguide at different path lengths.

A detection method, comprising:

• emitting fluorescence light from a light emitting element on a toothbrush;
• using a graded index optical fiber waveguide coupled to the toothbrush and receiving fluorescence light via the graded index optical fiber waveguide from a plurality of angles;
• preserving a coupling angle of the fluorescence light within the multimode optical waveguide at at least one reflection event within the multimode optical waveguide;
• using a detector configured to receive the fluorescence light from at least one tooth for detecting plaque, calculus and/or caries and communicating plaque identification information of the at least one tooth based on frequency domain lifetime measurements;
• and
• providing real-time feedback to a user of the toothbrush via a feedback mechanism based on modal dispersion used to detect at least one plaque, calculus and/or caries fluorescence area on the at least one tooth and detecting fluorescence light as it travels along a core of the grade index optical fiber waveguide at different path lengths.