Handpiece for detection of dental demineralization
A dental implement including a housing, a light source, and an air supply, the implement being suitable for examining tissue such as dentition of a patient and detecting loss of mineralization therein. The implement is capable of operating in a wireless mode. The implement is further able to communicate with a computing device to allow recording of images captured by the implement.
1. A handheld dental implement including:
a housing defining an interior space;
a power source;
a light source electrically coupled to the power source;
a light detecting device;
a gas reservoir
a mirror positioned to reflect light from the light source onto a diagnostic specimen and positioned to reflect light from the diagnostic specimen to the light detecting device; and
a gas conduit positioned to transmit gas from the gas reservoir into contact with the mirror.
2. The implement of claim 1 , further including a gas conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the gas reservoir and the second end being exposed to ambient air.
3. The implement of claim 2 , further including a switch that selectively places the gas reservoir in fluid communication with ambient air.
4. The implement of claim 1 , further including a gas input fluidly coupled to the gas reservoir.
5. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the gas reservoir is rechargeable.
6. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the light source is an LED.
7. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the gas conduit is further positioned to transmit gas from the gas reservoir into contact with a diagnostic subject.
8. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the light detecting device is coupled to the power source and coupled to an antenna.
9. The implement of claim 8 , wherein the light detecting device and the antenna are both located within the interior space of the housing.
10. The implement of claim 1 , further including a microphone coupled to the power source.
11. The implement of claim 1 , further including a cradle including a bay sized and shaped to at least partially receive the housing therein.
12. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the mirror is located on an interior portion of a removable end cap.
13. A handheld dental implement including:
a power source;
a light source electrically coupled to the power source;
a microphone;
an antenna coupled to the power source and the microphone;
a light detecting device,
a gas reservoir;
a mirror positioned to reflect light from the light source onto a diagnostic specimen and positioned to reflect light from the diagnostic specimen to the light detecting device; and
a gas conduit positioned to transmit gas from the gas reservoir into contact with the mirror.
14. The implement of claim 13 , further including a housing defining an interior space.
15. The implement of claim 13 , wherein the implement is wireless.