Patent ID: 8721327
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: A61B,A61C

Abstract:
1. A dental tartar detection and removal device, comprising a tartar removal instrument configured to be displaced along a tooth, a light source that emits incident light at two or more wavelengths, including at least one wavelength in the infrared range which transmits through one of blood and water, to illuminate a region of the tooth, to be examined, or adjacent to the tooth, a spectral reflectance detector for collecting 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 amount of 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.