# US 2016/0256121 A1 · Digital x-ray diagnosis and evaluation of dental disease > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0256121 A1 - Document ID: US20160256121A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/156,271 - Filed: 2016-05-16 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-12 - Assignees: Leigh E. Colby - Inventors: Leigh E. Colby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160256121A1 ## CPC - A61B 6/51: for dentistry - A61B 6/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 6/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 6/467: {characterised by special input means} - A61B 6/505: {for diagnosis of bone} - A61B 6/5217: {extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data} - A61B 6/582: {Calibration} - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - A61B 6/583: {using calibration phantoms} - G06T 2207/30036: Dental; Teeth - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method for diagnosis and evaluation of tooth decay comprises: locating in an x-ray image the contour of the dento-enamel junction (DEJ); measuring optical density along contours substantially parallel to and on either side of the DEJ contour; and calculating at least one numerical decay value from the measured optical densities. A method for diagnosis and evaluation of periodontal disease comprises: measuring in an x-ray image a bone depth (BD) relative to the position of the cemento-enamel junctions (CEJs) of adjacent teeth; measuring bone density along a contour between the adjacent teeth; and calculating a numerical crestal density (CD) value from the measured bone density. Calibration standards may be employed for facilitating calculation of the numerical values. A dental digital x-ray imaging calibration method for at least partly correcting for variations of the optical densities of images acquired from the dental digital x-ray imaging system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for diagnosis and evaluation of tooth decay, said method comprising the steps of: (a) locating in an x-ray image the contour of a dento-enamel junction (DEJ); (b) measuring at least one optical density along contours substantially parallel to and on either side of the DEJ contour; and (c) calculating at least one numerical decay value from the measured at least one optical density; (d) wherein said at least one numerical decay value is suitable for the diagnosis and evaluation of tooth decay. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calibrating the numerical decay value, bone depth, or numerical crestal density using a radiograph of at least one composite calibration block. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one numerical decay value is suitable for the diagnosis and evaluation of periodontal disease. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying said at least one numerical decay value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying said at least one numerical decay value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying said at least one numerical decay value in response to the position of a user-movable cursor. ### Claim 7 A method for diagnosis and evaluation of dental disease of teeth in a mouth, said method comprising the steps of: (a) using a cursor, locating in an X-ray image a local location on a tooth; (b) measuring in said X-ray image bone density at said local location, said bone density being variable with the position of said cursor; and (c) calculating at least one local numerical density value from the measured bone density at said local location, said at least one local numerical density value being variable with the position of said cursor; (d) calculating at least one maximum numerical density value from the measured bone density surrounding said local location, said at least one maximum numerical density value being variable with the position of said cursor; and (e) displaying said local numerical density value and said maximum numerical density value, said local numerical density value related to the extent of dental disease present at said local location, and said maximum numerical density value being the maximum numerical density value calculated for the density surrounding said local location; (f) wherein said displayed values are suitable for the diagnosis and evaluation of dental disease. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said dental disease is dental caries. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said dental disease is periodontal disease. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said dental disease is dental abscesses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying said displayed values. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying said displayed values in response to the position of said cursor, said cursor being a user-movable cursor. ### Claim 13 A method for diagnosis and evaluation of dental disease of teeth in a mouth, said method comprising the steps of: (a) using a cursor, locating in an X-ray image a local location on a tooth; (b) measuring in said X-ray image a bone depth (BD) at said local location, said bone depth (BD) being variable with the position of said cursor; (c) measuring in said X-ray image a bone density at said local location, said bone density being variable with the position of said cursor; and (d) calculating at least one local numerical density value from the measured bone density at said local location, said at least one local numerical density value being variable with the position of said cursor; and (e) displaying said local numerical density value and said bone depth (BD), said local numerical density value related to the extent of dental disease present at said local location; (f) wherein the displayed values are suitable for the diagnosis and evaluation of dental disease. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said dental disease is dental caries. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said dental disease is periodontal disease. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said dental disease is dental abscesses. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying said displayed values. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying said displayed values in response to the position of said cursor, said cursor being a user-movable cursor. ### Claim 19 A method for diagnosis and evaluation of dental abscesses of teeth in a mouth, said method comprising the steps of: (a) measuring in an x-ray image a lamina dura bone density of a tooth; and (b) calculating a numerical density value from the measured lamina dura bone density. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: (a) using a cursor, locating in an X-ray image a lamina dura local location on a tooth; (b) said step of measuring in an x-ray image a lamina dura bone density further comprising the step of measuring in said X-ray image bone density at said lamina dura local location, said lamina dura bone density being variable with the position of said cursor; and (c) said step of calculating a numerical density value from the measured lamina dura bone density further comprising the step of calculating at least one lamina dura local numerical density value from the measured bone density at said lamina dura local location, said at least one lamina dura local numerical density value being variable with the position of said cursor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: (a) using a cursor, locating in an X-ray image a lamina dura local location on a tooth; (b) said step of measuring in an x-ray image a lamina dura bone density further comprising the step of measuring in said X-ray image bone density at said lamina dura local location, said lamina dura bone density being variable with the position of said cursor; (c) said step of calculating a numerical density value from the measured lamina dura bone density further comprising the step of calculating at least one lamina dura local numerical density value from the measured bone density at said lamina dura local location, said at least one lamina dura local numerical density value being variable with the position of said cursor; (d) calculating at least one lamina dura maximum numerical density value from the measured bone density surrounding said lamina dura local location, said at least one lamina dura maximum numerical density value being variable with the position of said cursor; and (e) displaying said lamina dura local numerical density value and said lamina dura maximum numerical density value, said lamina dura local numerical density value related to the extent of dental abscesses present at said lamina dura local location, and said lamina dura maximum numerical density value being the maximum numerical lamina dura density value calculated for the lamina dura density surrounding said lamina dura local location; (f) wherein said displayed values are suitable for the diagnosis and evaluation of dental abscesses.