DENTAL IMAGING INSTRUMENT HAVING AN AIR STREAM AUXILIARY
A dental instrument and method for imaging the three-dimensional topography of one or more teeth in the oral cavity of an individual is provided. The instrument includes a probe insertable into the oral cavity to receive the image of these surfaces which can then be processed. Combined with the probe is an auxiliary which projects an air stream toward the surface to be imaged by the probe and acts to evaporate and remove from these surfaces a liquid film coating formed by saliva and other fluids present in the oral cavity, to render these surfaces dry and to enhance their reflectivity and in doing so, provide clearer images.
1 . A dental instrument for imaging the topography of one or more teeth, said instrument including a probe for capturing an image of the surfaces of the teeth and an auxiliary which directs a stream of gas toward these surfaces.
2 . An instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the stream of gas is a positive stream emitted towards said surfaces.
3 . An instrument according to claim 2 , wherein said gas is air.
4 . An instrument according to claim 3 ; wherein the stream of gas is under negative-pressure.
5 . An instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the stream of gas is at a temperature above body temperature.
6 . An instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary includes a pair bf nozzles mounted on opposite sides of the probe.
7 . An instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the nozzles are oriented so that one produces a gas stream on the surface of the teeth section to be imaged, and the other produces a gas stream over the external optical surface of the probe.
8 . An instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the nozzles are coupled to an air compressor.
9 . An instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the nozzles are coupled to a vacuum pump.
10 . A method for imaging a three-dimensional surface topography of a teeth segment, comprising bringing a probe into proximity of the teeth to be imaged and acquiring the image, the method being characterized in that while acquiring the image causing a stream of gas to flow over the surface of the teeth to be imaged.
11 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein the stream of gas is a positive stream emitted towards said surfaces.
12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein said gas is air.
13 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the stream of gas is under negative-pressure.
14 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein the stream of gas is at a temperature above body temperature.
15 . A method according to claim 10 , comprising providing streams of gas that flows over the surface of the teeth section to be imaged and the other to flow over the probe's external optical surface.
16 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein the two streams produce two intersecting sector-shaped gas streams, each sector encompassing the set of teeth to be imaged.