Apparatus for caries detection

A method for imaging a tooth comprising:

• directing incident light from a first light source having a first spectral range for obtaining an image of the tooth;
• disposing a lens in a return path to direct image-bearing light from the tooth toward a sensor for obtaining image data;
• directing light from a second light source toward the lens;
• directing light from a third light source toward the lens, and
• detecting an overlap of light beams from the second and third light sources near the focal point of the lens, wherein the overlap indicates that a surface of the tooth in the image is in focus.

A method for imaging a tooth comprising:

• directing incident light from a first light source having a first spectral range for obtaining an image of the tooth;
• directing light from a second light source toward a lens, wherein the lens is positioned in a return path to direct image-bearing light from the tooth toward a sensor for obtaining image data;
• directing light from a third light source toward the lens, and
• detecting an overlap of light beams from the second and third light sources near the focal point of the lens, wherein the overlap indicates that a surface of the tooth in the image is in focus.

A method for imaging a tooth comprising:

• directing incident light from a first light source having a first spectral range for obtaining an image of the tooth;
• directing light from a second light source toward a lens, wherein the lens is positioned in a return path to direct image-bearing light from the tooth toward a sensor for obtaining image data;
• directing light from a third light source toward the lens, and
• displaying the image including the light from the second light source and the light for the third light source.