DENTAL DEVICE WITH PROBE AND METHODS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include, for example, a method for automatically entering content into a periodontal chart. Such methods include, for example, providing an Intra Oral Scanner (IOS) with an elongate probe extending therefrom, contacting a first point inside an oral cavity with the probe while scanning the cavity with the IOS, determining a position of the first point based on the scanning to determine a position in space of the elongate probe, calculating content to be entered into a periodontal chart, and entering the content into the periodontal chart. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
1 - 50 . (canceled)
51 . (canceled)
52 . A device for collecting and evaluating data on subgingival plaque, comprising:
a probe sized and shaped to enter into one or more periodontal pockets;
at least one sensor in said probe, wherein said at least one sensor is sized and shaped to enter into said one or more periodontal pockets;
and
a processor configured for:
receiving data from said at least one sensor, and
evaluating said received data to assess subgingival plaque and/or calculus.
53 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured for sensing at least one color; and wherein said processor is further configured for evaluating said sensed at least one color for a presence of said plaque and/or calculus.
54 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured for sensing at least one color; and wherein said processor is further configured for evaluating said sensed at least one color for identifying a cementum enamel junction.
55 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein said at least one sensor is at least one imager.
56 . The device according to claim 55 , wherein said processor includes instructions for finding a location of said at least one sensor in relation to teeth.
57 . The device according to claim 56 , wherein said location is used for positioning data on a periodontal chart.
58 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein said probe further comprises one or more of a source of ultraviolet light, blue, visible and near infrared (NIR) light; wherein said processor is further configured for:
receiving data from said at least one sensor in relation to scattered, absorbed or fluorescence emission resulting from said source illumination, and
evaluating said received data to assess subgingival plaque and/or calculus.
59 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein:
said at least one sensor is configured for sensing reflectivity, and
said processor is further configured for evaluating said sensed reflectivity for a presence of said plaque and/or calculus.
60 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein said probe is sized and shaped as a periodontal probe designed to measure pocket depth of a periodontal pocket
61 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein said processor is further configured for measuring a periodontal pocket depth while said probe is inserted into a periodontal pocket.
62 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein:
said probe further comprises a widened portion at or near a tip of said probe;
said widened portion comprises a reflective surface configured to provide an expanded field of view (FOV) at an angle to an unmodified FOV of said at least one sensor,
and
said at least one sensor is configured to perform measurements on said reflective surface.
63 . The device according to claim 58 , wherein said device further comprises one or more mirrors configured for reflecting one or more of said source of ultraviolet light, visible light and said NIR light; and wherein said processor is further configured for performing said evaluating based on data measured on said one or more mirrors.
64 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein:
said device further comprises an ultrasonic scaler,
said at least one sensor is configured for measuring sound created from vibration of said probe on different surfaces,
and
said processor is further configured to assess subgingival plaque and/or calculus based on said measured sound.
65 . The device according to claim 52 , wherein:
said at least one sensor is configured for measuring a change in slope and/or texture,
and
said processor is further configured for evaluating said received change in slope and/or texture to assess subgingival plaque and/or calculus.
66 . The device according to claim 61 , further comprising at least one additional imager positioned on a head of a body of said device and positioned to have a field of view of said probe, wherein said measuring a periodontal pocket depth is performed using data from said at least one additional imager.
67 . A method of evaluating plaque and/or calculus, comprising:
inserting a probe comprising at least one sensor in said probe into a periodontal pocket, and
determining a level of subgingival plaque and/or calculus using data received from said at least one sensor.
68 . The method according to claim 67 , further comprising sensing at least one color with said at least one sensor; and wherein said determining comprises evaluating said sensed at least one color for a presence of said plaque and/or calculus.
69 . The method according to claim 67 , further comprising sensing at least one color with said at least one sensor; and wherein said determining comprises evaluating said sensed at least one color for identifying a cementum enamel junction.
70 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein said at least one sensor is at least one imager.
71 . The method according to claim 69 , wherein said processor includes instructions for finding a location of said at least one sensor in relation to teeth.
72 . The method according to claim 71 , wherein said location is used for positioning data on a periodontal chart.
73 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein:
said probe further comprises one or more of a source of ultraviolet light, near infrared (NIR) light and fluorescence,
said method further comprises:
receiving data from said at least one sensor in relation to one or more of said source of ultraviolet light, said NIR light and said fluorescence,
and
evaluating said received data to assess subgingival plaque and/or calculus.
74 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured for sensing reflectivity; and wherein said processor is further configured for evaluating said sensed reflectivity for a presence of said plaque and/or calculus.
75 . The method according to claim 67 , further comprising measuring a periodontal pocket depth while said inserting.
76 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein said probe further comprises a widened portion at or near a tip of said probe; wherein said widened portion comprises a reflective surface configured to provide an expanded field of view (FOV) at an angle to an unmodified FOV of said at least one sensor; and wherein said method further comprises performing measurements on said reflective surface for said determining.
77 . The method according to claim 73 , wherein said device further comprises one or more mirrors configured for reflecting one or more of said source of ultraviolet light, said NIR light and said fluorescence; and wherein said method further comprises reflecting one or more of said source of ultraviolet light, said NIR light and said fluorescence on said one or more mirrors to perform said determining.
78 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein said device further comprises an ultrasonic scaler; and wherein said at least one sensor is configured for measuring sound created from vibration of said probe on different surfaces; and wherein said method further comprises determining said level of subgingival plaque and/or calculus based on said measured sound.
79 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured for measuring a change in slope and/or texture; and wherein said method further comprises determining said level of subgingival plaque and/or calculus using said received change in slope and/or texture.
80 . The method according to claim 75 , wherein said measuring a periodontal pocket depth comprises collecting data from at least one additional imager positioned on a head of a body of a device having said probe; said least one additional imager having a field of view of said probe.