JP2005118132A - Restored tooth identification device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To identify a natural tooth and a restored one by their accurate differentiation. <P>SOLUTION: A restored tooth identification device comprises a light emitting part 3 to emit an excitation light toward a subject's tooth, a wavelength switching part 2 to switch a wavelength of the excitation light, a receiving part 4 to receive fluorescence emitted from the tooth illuminated by the excitation light, and a determining part 6a to determine whether the teeth is a restored one or not, or contains a restored part or not from a difference in fluorescence intensity emitted from the tooth illuminated by a short wavelength excitation light and a long wavelength one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a restoration tooth identifying device that distinguishes and recognizes natural teeth that are a part of a living body and restoration teeth restored using a restoration material such as resin or porcelain.

In recent years, in the field of aesthetic dentistry, restoration materials such as resins and porcelain that have a texture similar to that of natural teeth have been widely used. Aesthetics are improved.
JP-A-8-89478 (FIG. 1 etc.) JP 2002-369833 A

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 describes a device that shines light on teeth, gums, jawbone, tongue, cheeks, etc., captures an image of a tooth through which light has passed, and observes oral tissue from the image.

  Negative effects due to improved aesthetics of restoration teeth have also been pointed out. Since it is difficult to distinguish between a natural tooth and a restoration tooth, the restoration tooth is mistakenly diagnosed as a natural tooth by dental examination or the like. The restoration tooth is a restoration tooth to the last, and it is necessary to be careful because a correct examination is not performed unless it is recognized separately from the natural tooth that is a part of the living body.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a restoration tooth identification device that can distinguish and correctly recognize natural teeth and restoration teeth.

As means for solving the above-described problems, a restoration tooth identification device having the following configuration is employed.
That is, the restoration tooth identifying apparatus of the present invention includes a light emitting unit that irradiates a subject's teeth with excitation light, and a wavelength of the excitation light that is either a specific first wavelength or a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength. A wavelength switching unit for switching, a light receiving unit for receiving fluorescence emitted from the teeth when the excitation light is applied to the teeth, and the arbitrary teeth when the excitation light of the first wavelength is applied to an arbitrary tooth The difference between the emission intensity of the fluorescence emitted from the arbitrary tooth and the emission intensity of the fluorescence emitted from the arbitrary tooth when the arbitrary teeth are irradiated with the excitation light of the second wavelength is obtained, and based on the magnitude of the difference And a discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the arbitrary tooth is a restoration tooth or whether or not it includes a restoration part.

  Whether the tooth to be inspected is a natural tooth or a restoration tooth such as resin or porcelain, the emission intensity of fluorescence emitted when irradiated with excitation light with a short wavelength is irradiated with excitation light with a long wavelength. It is known that the emission intensity of the fluorescent light emitted is larger than that of the natural tooth, and that the difference in the emission intensity is larger in the natural tooth than in the restoration tooth, and the difference in magnitude is clearly shown.

  Based on such knowledge, the present invention irradiates the teeth to be examined with excitation light having different wavelength lengths and receives fluorescence excited by the light. Then, as described above, the difference in emission intensity is obtained, and based on the magnitude, it is determined whether or not the tooth to be inspected is a restoration tooth or whether or not a restoration portion exists. At this time, the difference in light emission intensity is larger in the natural tooth than in the restoration tooth, and the difference in magnitude appears clearly, so that the accuracy in the determination is increased.

  In the present invention, the wavelength switching unit includes a first bandpass filter that limits a wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source to the first wavelength, and a wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source as the second wavelength. It is preferable to include a second bandpass filter to be limited and a filter arrangement replacement mechanism that alternately changes the arrangement of the first and second bandpass filters with respect to the light source. By alternately exchanging the arrangement of the first and second bandpass filters for one light source, it is possible to easily switch the wavelength of the excitation light applied to the teeth to be examined.

  In the present invention, the wavelength switching unit includes a first laser diode that emits the excitation light having the first wavelength, a second laser diode that emits the excitation light having the second wavelength, and the first and second laser diodes. It is preferable to include a light source arrangement replacement mechanism that alternately changes the arrangement of the laser diodes. The wavelength of the excitation light irradiated on the tooth to be inspected by alternately changing the arrangement of the first and second laser diodes so that one of them can be irradiated with the excitation light toward the tooth to be inspected. Can be easily switched.

  In this invention, it is preferable to provide the teaching part which teaches a test subject, an operator, or a third party at any time the discrimination | determination result of the said discrimination | determination part. The discrimination result is smoothly advanced by teaching the subject of the discrimination to the subject, the operator, or a third party as needed.

  According to the present invention, the wavelength of the excitation light irradiated on the tooth to be inspected is switched, the difference in the emission intensity of the fluorescence excited by each excitation light is obtained, and the difference between the natural teeth is determined based on the magnitude of the difference. Since the tooth to be examined is a natural tooth or a restoration tooth, or whether there is a restoration part, based on the fact that the tooth is larger than the restoration tooth and the difference in size clearly appears, the natural tooth and the restoration tooth And can be recognized correctly.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The restoration tooth identification device of the present embodiment selectively switches the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source 1 and the excitation light applied to the tooth to one of two wavelengths (for example, 380 nm and 400 nm) having different lengths. A wavelength switching unit 2, a light emitting unit 3 that irradiates excitation light emitted from the light source 1 toward the tooth to be examined, and a light receiving unit 4 that receives fluorescence emitted from the tooth when the excitation light is applied to the tooth. The LED lamp (teaching part) 5 that lights up when the tooth to be examined is a restoration tooth or includes a restoration part, and teaches the subject, an operator, or a third party to that effect; A control circuit 6 for controlling and a start switch 7 for starting or stopping the identification device are provided.

  The light source 1 and the wavelength switching unit 2 are accommodated in a stationary housing 8. The light emitting unit 3, the light receiving unit 4, the LED lamp 5, the control circuit 6, and the start switch 7 are accommodated in a cylindrical casing 9 having a size that can be held with one hand. A hood 14 that covers the subject's teeth is provided at the tip of the housing 9. The hood 14 is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber or polymer resin so as to be deformed when pressed against the teeth and prevent light from being inserted inside from the outside. Each part accommodated in the two housings 8 and 9 is connected via a collective cable 12 in which a light guide 10 made of optical fiber and a signal cable 11 are bundled.

  The light source 1 is disposed at a position where the excitation light emitted from the light source 1 is incident on the proximal end of the light guide 10, and the condenser lens 13 is disposed on the path of the excitation light inserted from the light source 1 into the proximal end 10 a of the light guide 10. Is arranged.

  The wavelength switching unit 2 includes a bandpass filter (first bandpass filter) 21 that limits the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source 1 to, for example, 380 nm (first wavelength), and the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source 1. For example, a band-pass filter (second band-pass filter) 22 limited to 400 nm (second wavelength) is provided. The bandpass filters 21 and 22 are arranged on a disk-like plate 24 fixed to the shaft 23 a of the stepping motor 23 with a phase shifted by π across the center. The stepping motor 23 and the plate 24 constitute a filter replacement mechanism 20. The position of the band pass filters 21 and 22 is changed every time the stepping motor 23 is rotated by half, and one of the band pass filters 21 and 22 is always arranged on the excitation light path inserted from the light source 1 into the base end 10a of the light guide 10. It is like that.

  The light emitting unit 3 is provided on the front end surface 9 a of the housing 9 and includes a lens 31 that diffuses excitation light guided from the light source 1 through the light guide 10. The lens 31 constitutes a part of the housing 9.

  The light receiving unit 4 is provided on the front end surface 9 a of the housing 9 so as to be adjacent to the light emitting unit 3, and a filter 41 that transmits only fluorescence having a predetermined length of wavelength, and fluorescence that has passed through the filter 41. A focusing lens 42 and a detector 43 that detects fluorescence focused by the lens 42 and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the emission intensity thereof are provided. Like the light emitting unit 3, the filter 41 constitutes a part of the housing 9. The electrical signal output from the detector 43 is transmitted to the control circuit 6 via the signal line 44.

  The control circuit 6 drives the wavelength switching unit 2 to switch the wavelength of the excitation light irradiated to the tooth to be inspected, and obtains the difference in the emission intensity of the fluorescence excited by the two excitation lights having different wavelengths. A function as a determination unit 6a for determining whether or not the tooth to be inspected is a restoration tooth based on the size, or whether or not a restoration part is present, and the LED lamp 5 based on the determination result of the determination unit 6a. It has a function as the control part 6b which lights or extinguishes.

The identification device configured as described above is used as follows.
First, the subject opens his mouth and presses the hood 14 so as to cover one of the subject's teeth. The hood 14 pressed against the teeth and surrounding gums is deformed so as to match the shape of the teeth and gums, and the inside of the hood 14 is shielded so that light from the outside does not enter.

  When the start switch 7 is turned on, the light source 1 is turned on, and the light emitting unit 3 emits excitation light toward the teeth covered with the hood 14. Initially, the wavelength switching unit 2 arranges the band pass filter 21 on the path of the excitation light that is inserted from the light source 1 into the proximal end 10a of the light guide 10, and excitation light having a short wavelength is applied to the tooth to be inspected. Irradiated. When the excitation light is irradiated, the teeth emit fluorescence, and the light receiving unit 4 receives the fluorescence. The light receiving unit 4 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the emission intensity of the fluorescence received by the detector 43. The electrical signal output from the detector 43 is transmitted to the control circuit 6.

In the control circuit 6, the process shown in FIG. 2 is performed when natural teeth / restored teeth are discriminated.
First, the control circuit 6 calculates the emission intensity (hereinafter referred to as X1) of the fluorescence excited by the excitation light having a short wavelength based on the electrical signal output from the detector 43 (step S1). Next, the control circuit 6 drives the wavelength switching unit 2 and arranges the bandpass filter 22 on the path of the excitation light that is inserted from the light source 1 into the proximal end 10a of the light guide 10 instead of the bandpass filter 21 (step) S2). Thereby, the excitation light with a long wavelength is irradiated to the tooth to be examined.

  When the excitation light is irradiated, the teeth emit fluorescence having an intensity different from that of the tooth, and the light receiving unit 4 receives the fluorescence. The light receiving unit 4 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the emission intensity of the fluorescence received by the detector 43. The electrical signal output from the detector 43 is transmitted to the control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 calculates the emission intensity (hereinafter referred to as X2) of the fluorescence excited by the excitation light having a long wavelength based on the electric signal output from the detector 43 (step S3).

  Subsequently, the control circuit 6 calculates a difference (X1−X2) obtained by subtracting the light emission intensity X2 from the light emission intensity X1 (step S4). Next, the control circuit 6 compares the calculated difference (X1-X2) with a predetermined threshold value (step S5), and if the calculated difference (X1-X2) is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value. If the tooth to be inspected is a natural tooth, the LED lamp 5 is extinguished (step S6), and if it is smaller than the threshold value, the LED lamp 5 is turned on assuming that the tooth to be inspected contains a restoration tooth or a restoration part. (Step S7).

  When the inspection is completed for one tooth, the hood 14 is slid to move to the adjacent tooth, and the same inspection as described above is performed.

  According to the identification device configured as described above, a difference (X1-X2) in light emission intensity is obtained, and based on the magnitude, whether or not the tooth to be inspected is a restoration tooth, or there is a restoration portion. It is determined whether or not. At this time, the difference in light emission intensity (X1-X2) is larger in the natural tooth than in the restoration tooth, and the difference in size clearly appears. Therefore, the accuracy in discrimination is increased, so that the natural tooth and the restoration tooth are separated. It becomes possible to recognize correctly separately.

  In addition, by alternately exchanging the arrangement of the bandpass filters 21 and 22 with respect to one light source, it is possible to easily switch the wavelength of the excitation light applied to the tooth to be examined.

  Furthermore, since the result of the discrimination is taught to the subject, the operator, or a third party at any time by the lighting / extinction of the LED lamp 5 so that it can be easily understood visually, the discrimination work can be smoothly performed. In addition, as a means for teaching the determination result, a buzzer or the like may be used to notify by sound, not using the lamp as in the present embodiment.

[Second Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component already demonstrated in the said 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the restoration tooth identifying apparatus of the present embodiment, two laser diodes (first and second laser diodes) 51 and 52 are provided as light sources. The wavelength (first wavelength) of the laser light emitted from the laser diode 51 is set shorter than the wavelength (second wavelength) of the laser light emitted from the laser diode 52 (for example, 380 nm and 400 nm).

  The laser diodes 51 and 52 are arranged side by side so that the irradiation directions of the laser beams are parallel, and are fixed on a movable stage 53 that reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the irradiation directions of the respective laser beams. The positions of the laser diodes 51 and 52 are changed each time the movable stage 53 is reciprocated, and one of the laser diodes 51 and 52 is always arranged at a position where the base end 10a of the light guide 10 is necessarily irradiated. Yes.

  In the identification device configured as described above, when switching the wavelength, the wavelength of the excitation light applied to the tooth to be examined is driven by driving the movable stage 53 and selectively using the laser diodes 51 and 52. Can be easily switched.

It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of each part of the identification apparatus of a restoration tooth. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process implemented in order to perform discrimination | determination of a natural tooth / restoration tooth. It is a figure which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of each part of the identification apparatus of a restoration tooth.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light source 2 Wavelength switching part 3 Light emission part 4 Light receiving part 5 LED lamp (teaching part)
6 Control Circuit 6a Discriminating Unit 20 Filter Placement Replacement Mechanism 21 Band Pass Filter (First Band Pass Filter)
22 Bandpass filter (second bandpass filter)

Claims (4)

A light-emitting unit that irradiates the subject's teeth with excitation light;
A wavelength switching unit that switches the wavelength of the excitation light to either a specific first wavelength or a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength;
A light receiving unit that receives fluorescence emitted from the tooth when the excitation light is applied to the tooth;
Fluorescence emission intensity emitted from the arbitrary tooth when the arbitrary wavelength is irradiated with the excitation light of the first wavelength, and the arbitrary tooth when the arbitrary tooth is irradiated with the excitation light of the second wavelength A discriminating unit for obtaining a difference from the emission intensity of the fluorescence emitted from the discriminating unit and discriminating whether the arbitrary tooth is a restoration tooth or a restoration part based on the magnitude of the difference An apparatus for identifying a restored tooth. A first bandpass filter that limits the wavelength of excitation light emitted from a light source to the first wavelength;
A second bandpass filter that limits the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source to the second wavelength;
The restoration tooth identification device according to claim 1, further comprising: a filter arrangement replacement mechanism that alternately replaces the arrangement of the first and second band pass filters with respect to the light source. The wavelength switching unit, a first laser diode that emits excitation light of the first wavelength;
A second laser diode that emits excitation light of the second wavelength;
The restoration tooth identification device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source arrangement replacement mechanism that alternately switches the arrangement of the first and second laser diodes. The identification apparatus of a restoration tooth as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3 provided with the teaching part which teaches a test subject, an operator, or a third party the discrimination | determination result of the said discrimination | determination part.

Images