Apparatus and method for measuring the color of teeth
Color measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed. Measured data also may be stored and/or organized as part of a patient data base.
1 . A method for producing a dental prosthesis for a patient, comprising the steps of:
measuring a tooth of the patient, the measuring step comprising moving a probe towards and away from the tooth, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the tooth, and receives light reflected from the tooth through a plurality of receiving fiber optics, wherein the tooth is measured when the light received from the plurality of receiving fiber optics peak substantially simultaneously, wherein the measuring produces data indicative of the characteristics of the tooth;
generating data for the dental prosthesis based on the measured data; and
preparing the dental prosthesis.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating data for the dental prosthesis comprises generating data determinative of a match between the measured data and a shade guide value.