System and method for detection and removal of dental tartar

Abstract

A dental tartar detection and removal device ( 10 ) comprises a powered tartar removal instrument ( 12 ) adapted to be displaced along a tooth (T), illumination means ( 14 ) for illuminating with an incident light a region on the examined or periodontal site, detection means ( 16 ) for collecting the light reflected there at, and an analysing system for providing a signal to an operator (OP) of the tartar removal instrument ( 12 ) or to the tartar removal instrument when measurements on the reflected light in one or more predetermined ranges of wavelengths fall within any first predetermined range of values that are characteristic of tartar, or when said measurements do not fall within any second predetermined range of values that are characteristic of artefacts other than tartar. As a result of the signal, the removal instrument becomes actuated, either by the operator (OP) or automatically, and the operator can proceed to removing the detected tartar (S) without having to remove the detection device, whereby detection can be continued while the tartar removal instruments ( 12 ) is in a tartar removal position, and until all tartar (S) has been removed.

1 . A dental tartar detection and removal device, comprising a tartar removal instrument adapted to be displaced along a tooth, illumination means for illuminating with an incident light a region to be examined on, or adjacent to, the tooth, detection means for collecting the light reflected thereat, and an analysing system for providing a signal to an operator of said tartar removal instrument or to said tartar removal instrument when measurements on the reflected light in one or more predetermined ranges of wavelengths fall within any first predetermined range of values that are characteristic of tartar, or when said measurements do not fall within any second predetermined range of values that are characteristic of artefacts other than tartar, such that in response to said signal said tartar removal instrument can be operated for removing tartar at said region, or adjacent thereto.  
     
     
         2 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said illumination means and said detection means are provided adjacent said tartar removal instrument such that said illumination means and said detection means remain at a site being examined while said tartar removing instrument is operated to remove detected tartar.  
     
     
         3 . A device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said first predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with spectral reflectance characteristics of tartar.  
     
     
         4 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said tartar removal instrument comprises a distal end with said illumination and detection means terminating substantially adjacent said distal end.  
     
     
         5 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said illumination and detection means extend within said distal end of said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         6 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said illumination and detection means extend externally along said distal end of said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         7 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein distal ends of said illumination and detection means are directed laterally of said distal end of said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         8 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said distal end of said tartar removal instrument is provided with a replaceable protective covering to protect said distal end against wear.  
     
     
         9 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said illumination means and said detection means comprise at least one optical fibre having a distal end located adjacent said distal end of said tartar removal instrument, said illumination means also comprising a light source at a proximal end of said optical fibre such that said incident light emitted by said light source is transmitted by said optical fibre to said distal end thereof and to the tooth.  
     
     
         10 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with colours of tartar.  
     
     
         11 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with IR of tartar.  
     
     
         12 . A device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with colours of tartar.  
     
     
         13 . A device as defined in any one of claims  9  and  12 , wherein said illumination means and said detection means each comprises one said optical fibre, said distal end of each said optical fibre being located adjacent said distal end of said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         14 . A device as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  13 , further comprising an irrigation system for delivering a fluid in the vicinity of the tooth.  
     
     
         15 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said irrigation system comprises a fluid supply tube having an outlet thereof adjacent distal ends of said illumination means, said detection means and said tartar removal instrument, and a fluid source in fluid communication with said supply tube upstream of said outlet thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein illumination means, said detection means and said supply tube each have distal sections thereof extending within said distal end of said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         17 . A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said irrigation system includes a reservoir in a housing of said tartar removal instrument and in fluid communication with said outlet via said supply tube.  
     
     
         18 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said illumination means and said detection means comprise at least one optical fibre having a distal sections located adjacent said distal end of said tartar removal instrument, and wherein said optical fibres comprise proximal sections that are detachably connected to said distal sections for allowing said distal sections and a working end of said tartar removal instrument to be selectively detached from said proximal sections for discarding said distal sections and said working end and replacing them with new ones, or for sterilising said distal sections and said working end before being returned to said proximal sections for further use thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A, device as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  15 , wherein said illumination and detection means each comprise proximal and distal sections that are detachably connected together for allowing said distal sections and a working end of said tartar removal instrument to be selectively detached from said proximal sections for discarding said distal sections and said working end and replacing them with new ones, or for sterilising said distal sections and said working end before being returned to said proximal sections for further use thereof, an optical connection member being provided between said proximal sections and said distal sections of said illumination and detection means.  
     
     
         20 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said illumination means and said detection means comprise at least one optical fibre having a distal end located adjacent said distal end of said tartar removal instrument and are independent from a working end of said tartar removal instrument, said working end being detachable from a handle of said tartar removal instrument such that said working end can be selectively detached for discarding said working end and replacing it with a new one, or for sterilising said working end before being returned to said handle for further use thereof.  
     
     
         21 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said illumination means and said detection means comprise at least one optical fibre having a distal section located adjacent said distal end of said tartar removal instrument, said distal section being selectively displaceable along said working end such that a position of said distal section can be adjusted following wear of said working end.  
     
     
         22 . A device as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  21 , wherein there is provided an indicator means adapted to be actuated by said detection means to indicate to the operator the presence of tartar substantially at a position of a distal end of said detection means.  
     
     
         23 . A device as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said indicator means comprises at least one of a luminous, a sound and a vibratory indicator.  
     
     
         24 . A device as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  23 , wherein said tartar removal instrument is at least one of power and manually actuated.  
     
     
         25 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said tartar removal instrument comprises handle defining a cavity for containing at least one of a water storage tank and a battery that provides power thereto.  
     
     
         26 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a manual switch is provided for switching between a removal mode and a detection mode of said tartar removal instrument and said detection means, respectively.  
     
     
         27 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an automatic switch is provided for automatically switching between a removal mode and a detection mode of said tartar removal instrument and said detection means, respectively, at an adjustable frequency.  
     
     
         28 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with spectral reflectance characteristics of said artefacts.  
     
     
         29 . A device as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  28 , wherein said analysing system comprises software for storing and/or updating data relative to a patient's history.  
     
     
         30 . A method for detecting and removing dental tartar from teeth, comprising the steps of: (a) providing with a detection instrument one of an incident light and a naturally present source of illumination on a region of a tooth, (b) collecting with said detection instrument and measuring reflected light from said region of the tooth; (c) analysing said reflected light to determine if said reflected light is representative of the presence of tartar; (d) providing a signal to an operator of a tartar removal apparatus or to a tartar removal instrument when presence of tartar has been detected in step (c); and (e) removing tartar from said region with said removal instrument while said detection instrument remains substantially in position in said region.  
     
     
         31 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein measurements determined in step (b) are analysed in step (c) for comparison with any predetermined range of values that are characteristic of tartar.  
     
     
         32 . A method as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with spectral reflectance characteristics of tartar.  
     
     
         33 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with colours of tartar.  
     
     
         34 . A method as defined in any one of  claims 30  to  33 , wherein an illumination system used in step (a) and a detection system used in step (b) comprise at least one optical fibre having a distal end displaced adjacent the tooth, said illumination system and said detection system being located adjacent of said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         35 . A method as defined in  claim 34 , wherein an irrigation system is used in steps (a) and (b) for delivering a fluid in the vicinity of the tooth.  
     
     
         36 . A method as defined in any one of  claims 30  to  35 , wherein in step (d) said signal is provided in the form of at least one of a light, a sound and a vibration.  
     
     
         37 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein measurements determined in step (b) are analysed in step (c) for comparison with any predetermined range of values that are characteristic of artefacts other than tartar that can be encountered by said tartar removal instrument along the tooth such that when said measurements do not fall within said predetermined range of values, said signal in step (d) is sent to the operator or to said tartar removal instrument.  
     
     
         38 . A method as defined in  claim 37 , wherein said predetermined range of values cover wavelengths associated with spectral reflectance characteristics of said artefacts.