System and method for detecting tooth cracks via surface contour imaging

A method for imaging the surface of a tooth comprising:

• a computer, at least in part, for executing the method;
• projecting and recording a first set of images of the tooth, wherein each image in the first set of images is illuminated according to a pattern generator oriented in a first direction;
• subsequently projecting and recording a second separate set of images of the tooth, wherein each image in the second set of images is illuminated according to a pattern generator oriented in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, where the second separate set of images of the tooth are different from the first set of images;
• reconstructing a first 3D contour image according to the recorded first set of images and a second 3D contour image according to the recorded second set of images;
• forming a residual 3D image as a subtraction between the first and second 3D contour images;
• analyzing the residual 3D image;
• and
• detecting a crack in the tooth surface by applying a line model algorithm to the residual image;
• and
• displaying surface conditions of the tooth.

A system for imaging a surface of a tooth, the system comprising:

• one or more memory devices storing instructions;
• and
• one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising:
• recording a first set of 2D images of the tooth, wherein each 2D image in the first set of 2D images is illuminated according to a first fringe pattern generator oriented in a first direction;
• recording a subsequent separate second set of 2D images of the tooth, wherein each 2D image in the second set of 2D images is illuminated according to a second fringe pattern generator oriented in a second direction that is shifted more than 10 degrees with respect to the first direction;
• reconstructing a first contour image according to the recorded first set of images and a second contour image according to the recorded second set of images;
• forming a residual image as a subtraction operation between the first and second contour images;
• analyzing the residual image;
• and
• detecting a crack in the tooth surface by applying a line model algorithm to the residual image;
• and
• displaying surface conditions of the tooth.