Patent ID: 7813790
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: A61B,A61C

Abstract:
1. A hand-held dental implement for use in detecting abnormal tooth surface conditions, comprising: an implement body having a proximal handle connected to a distal end; a mirror mounted on said distal end, said mirror adapted for insertion into the mouth of the user; a battery chamber in said proximal handle; a positive electrical contact in said battery chamber, and a negative electrical contact in said battery chamber, for electrical contact with respective positive and negative terminals of a battery received in said battery chamber; a light-emitting diode mounted on said implement, said light-emitting diode having positive and negative leads electrically connected to said positive electrical connection and said negative electrical connection, respectively, said light-emitting diode energizable by a battery received in said battery chamber; said light-emitting diode effectively positioned on said implement to illuminate tooth surfaces of the user when said mirror is positioned in the mouth of the user; said light-emitting diode effective to emit radiation having a peak intensity in the wavelength rage of about 390 nm to about 450 nm that causes visually detectable differential yellow-green and red-orange fluorescence emissions from normal tooth surfaces and abnormal tooth surfaces, respectively; a filter external of said handle and positioned to filter said differential fluorescence emissions for direct visualization by the user, said filter being a cut-off filter that does not pass the wavelength below the cut-off wavelength, about 520 nm, and a switch on said implement, said switch having a first condition wherein said light-emitting diode is energized by said battery, and a second condition wherein said light-emitting diode is not energized by said battery.