DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUBGINGIVAL MEASUREMENT
A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth.
1 .- 60 . (canceled)
61 . A system for identifying subgingival margin regions comprising:
an elongate body having a body longitudinal axis, sized and shaped to be inserted into a human patient's mouth, and comprising:
an elongate measurement element comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said elongate measurement element being connected to said elongate body at said proximal end, said elongate measurement element extending from said elongate body, along a measurement element axis which is different to said body longitudinal axis, said elongate measurement element comprising a tip at said distal end and adapted to be placed between a gingiva and a tooth; and
an imager with a field of view configured to extend in a direction of said measurement element axis, said imager being positioned near said elongate measurement element so said field of view captures said measurement element from above, in a general direction from said proximal end to said distal end; and
circuitry configured to analyze an image acquired by said imager and reconstruct a three-dimensional location of said tip when said tip is between said gingiva and the tooth, thereby measuring subgingival margin regions.