Method and apparatus for electronically imaging a tooth through transillumination by light

An apparatus for illuminating a tooth of interest comprising:

• a handle having a front end;
• a horizontal plate for resting on an occlusal or incisal surface of the tooth, the plate being coupled to the front end, and having a first edge proximate the front end and a second edge distanced from the front end;
• a vertical wall depending from the second edge, perpendicular to the horizontal plate;
• a first prong extending from an edge of the vertical wall towards the front end, for bearing against a proximal surface of the tooth;
• means for illuminating the tooth, located in the vertical wall adjacent the first prong;
• and
• means for receiving the light passing through the tooth, the means for receiving depending from the front end, opposite the illuminating means and distanced from the illuminating means a sufficient distance for the tooth to be received therebetween.

An apparatus for use in transillumination imaging of a tooth of interest in a mouth, comprising:

• a base with a front end;
• a first portion for resting on an occlusal or incisal surface of the tooth, extending from the front end;
• a second, vertical portion extending from the first portion with a prong extending perpendicular to the second, vertical portion, for bearing against a proximal surface of the tooth to prevent lateral movement of the apparatus during imaging;
• means for illuminating the tooth coupled to the front end;
• and
• means for receiving light passing through the tooth to form an image of the transilluminated tooth, said means being coupled to the front end, wherein the illuminating means and the receiving means define a region for receiving at least a portion of the tooth therebetween;
• the first portion and the prong for engaging the tooth in the mouth in a repeatable manner to define a position reference and angle reference for light radiation relative to at least one surface of the tooth, and an angle reference for the line of sight during imaging relative to at least one surface of the tooth.

A system for acquiring images of a tooth, comprising:

• an illumination source;
• an electronic camera;
• a mouthpiece for being coupled to the illumination source and the electronic camera, the mouthpiece having a frame including a base frame portion for being engaged by an operator and an extended frame portion extending from the base portion, the extended frame portion having an output portion for transferring light radiation to the tooth and an input portion for receiving light radiation passing through the tooth, the extended frame portion of the mouthpiece being anchorable to the tooth by engaging the tooth in a repeatable position with respect to the tooth to define a position reference and angle reference for light radiation relative to at least one surface of the tooth, and an angle reference for the line of sight during imaging relative to at least one surface of the tooth, the extended frame portion being rotatable with respect to the base;
• a processing unit for being coupled to the electronic camera;
• and
• a monitor for being coupled to the digital processing unit, to display images of the tooth.

A dental mouthpiece for use in transillumination imaging of a tooth of interest in a mouth, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• a front portion extending from the handle portion, the front portion having a distal end with a surface for bearing against an occlusal or incisal surface of a tooth and an extending portion depending from the surface, the extending portion having a parallel portion extending parallel to the horizontal surface for engaging a proximal surface of the tooth;
• an output portion for conveying light radiation from the front portion towards the tooth;
• and
• an input portion for receiving light radiation passing through the tooth;
• the front portion and parallel portion for engaging the tooth in the mouth in a repeatable manner to define a position reference and an angle reference for light radiation relative to at least one surface of the tooth, and an angle reference for the line of sight during imaging relative to at least one surface of the tooth.

A method of acquiring images of a tooth comprising:

• anchoring a mouthpiece in a position in a mouth with respect to the tooth in a repeatable manner;
• illuminating a surface of the tooth with light radiation provided through the mouthpiece;
• receiving light radiation passing through the tooth by the mouthpiece;
• and
• electronically imaging the tooth from the light received by the mouthpiece;
• wherein the anchoring step comprises providing a position reference and an angle reference for the light radiation relative to at least one surface of the tooth and an angle reference for the line of sight during imaging relative to at least one surface of the tooth, the mouthpiece being anchorable in a repeatable manner to provide the same position and angle references.

A method for monitoring changes with time in a region of interest of a tooth comprising:

• anchoring a mouthpiece to the tooth at a first point in time to define a reference position with respect to coordinate axes of at least two dimensions;
• illuminating a surface of the tooth with light radiation provided through the mouthpiece at a first angle defined with respect to the reference position and coordinate axes;
• digitally imaging the tooth by light passing through the tooth and received by the mouthpiece at a second angle defined with respect to the reference position and coordinate axis to create at least one digital image of at least a portion of the tooth that includes a region of interest;
• anchoring a dental mouthpiece to the same tooth in the mouth of the same patient at a later point in time to define substantially the same reference position with respect to the same coordinate axis as at the first point in time;
• illuminating substantially the same surface of the tooth with light radiation provided through the mouthpiece at substantially the first angle defined with respect to the reference position and coordinate axes;
• digitally imaging the tooth by light passing through the tooth and received by the mouthpiece at substantially the second angle defined with respect to the reference position and coordinate axes to create at least one, second digital image of the tooth including at least substantially the same region of interest of the tooth as the first image;
• and
• comparing the first and second digital images to identify changes in the region of interest of the tooth.

A method of acquiring images of a tooth of interest in a mouth, comprising:

• anchoring a mouthpiece in a position with respect to at least two coordinate axes defined with respect to a tooth of interest in the mouth by engaging at least a proximal surface of the tooth of interest to anchor the mouthpiece with respect to a lateral axis of the tooth of interest to define a position reference and an angle reference for light radiation relative to at least one surface of the tooth, and an angle reference for the line of sight during imaging relative to at least one surface of the tooth;
• illuminating a surface of the tooth with light radiation provided through the mouthpiece;
• receiving light passing through the tooth of interest by the mouthpiece;
• and
• electronically imaging the tooth of interest.

A method of acquiring images of a tooth with a dental mouthpiece, the mouthpiece having a frame including base frame portion and a rotatable frame portion coupled to the base portion, comprising;

• anchoring the dental mouthpiece in position with respect to a tooth in a repeatable manner to define a position reference and an angle reference for light radiation relative to at least one surface of the tooth, and an angle reference for the line of sight during imaging relative to at least one surface of the tooth;
• illuminating a surface of a tooth with light radiation provided through the mouthpiece, the light exiting the mouthpiece through the rotatable frame portion;
• coupling the light radiation passing through the tooth of interest to an electronic camera via the rotatable frame portion of the mouthpiece;
• and
• electronically imaging the tooth of interest with the electronic camera.