Abstract: A dental light curing device with an expanded functionality for diagnosing abnormalities by observation of native or induced fluorescence in the oral cavity. An optical assembly consisting of a short pass or band pass filter and a spacer is applied to the output distal end of the dental light curing device. A long pass filter is applied to the attenuating filter or the spacer is made as a long pass filter. The diagnosing sites can be seen through the spacer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental device which measures the translucency of the anterior tooth that is adjacent to the tooth to be restored and gives the translucency factor that is used for the creation of a natural looking repaired tooth. The device illuminates the incisal part of the tooth with white light and detects the light from the opposite side of the tooth. Signals indicating the values of transmitted light, the calibrated light, and the ambient light are processed and displayed on the LCD as a translucency factor. The device comprises a handpiece with a U-shape distal holder. One part of the holder includes several illuminating fibers, whereas another part carries a corresponding number of detecting fibers. The device is applied to the tooth by touching the edge of the tooth with a bottom and one side of the holder which carries the detecting fibers.

Abstract: A dental comparator scope for comparing a dental shade to a natural tooth. The scope comprises an L-shape body which includes a sight applying to the tooth and a handle for holding the scope, and a cartridge with a plurality of dental shades in it. Two identical optical channels are mounted, one inside of the sight and another inside of the handle. The channels include lenses and polychromatic light sources, preferable white LEDs. A mirror is placed in a point where optical axes of the channels are crossing. A split image of the shade and the tooth is observed through an eyepiece. The shades in the cartridge are driven by a motor when a button on the body is pressed by finger. The motor, light sources and adjuvant electronics are powered by a battery which is placed in the handle. The cartridge is snapped to the handle in a steady position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for color matching of slightly colored objects which are transparent, diffusing an absorbent, by acuminating a small error of the objects with a first bunch of optical fibers. A second bunch of optical fibers is used to pick up the light back scattered from the area of the objects. The second fibers are located inside of the illuminating fibers. The light is measured at 3 wavelengths that correspond to blue, green and red colors and the pigmentation of the object is calculated as a difference between the red and blue spectrum components. Presentation of the brightness is calculated to be proportional to the green spectrum component. The pigmentation and brightness is then compared with the same perimeters of a standard shape pallet. The invention is particularly suitable for color matching the teeth in the mouth with dental prosthesis and dental restorative materials.