Method and system for automatic intra-oral sensor locating for image acquisition

A method of capturing intra-oral digital images, said method comprising:

• establishing a spatial frame-of-reference with respect to teeth within a mouth of a patient by placing a bite-plate within said mouth of said patient wherein said patient bites down on said bite-plate such that said bite-plate is aligned in a known manner with said teeth of said patient;
• connecting an intra-oral digital imaging sensor to said bite plate within said mouth of said patient adjacent to at least one tooth within said mouth that is to be imaged using said intra-oral sensor, wherein said bite-plate is capable of interacting with said connected intra-oral sensor to help generate spatial location information of said connected intra-oral sensor;
• automatically generating first spatial location information defining how said intra- oral sensor is positioned with respect to said bite plate;
• acquiring a first digital image of said at least one tooth using said intra-oral sensor;
• automatically associating said first spatial location information with said first digital image;
• automatically associating said first digital image with one of a plurality of pre-defined areas in a tooth chart corresponding to said associated first spatial location information;
• automatically orienting said first digital image to said one associated pre-defined area of said tooth chart in response to said first spatial location information or a default or pre-defined user preference of image orientation for said one associated pre-defined area of said tooth chart;
• and
• displaying said tooth chart and said oriented first digital image in said one associated area of said tooth chart.