Patent ID: 8520922

Claim:
A method for forming an enhanced image of a tooth comprising: (a) obtaining fluorescence image data from the tooth by: (ai) directing incident light toward the tooth; (aii) sensing fluorescent emission from the tooth; and (aiii) storing a fluorescence image data value for each pixel position in the fluorescence image data; (b) obtaining reflectance image data from the tooth by: (bi) directing incident light toward the tooth; (bii) sensing back-scattered reflectance light from the tooth; and (biii) storing a reflectance image data value for each pixel position in the reflectance image data; and (c) combining each pixel in the fluorescence image data with its corresponding pixel in the reflectance image data by: (ci) calculating a regional maxima image data value from the reflectance image data; and (cii) computing an enhanced image data value according to a difference between the fluorescence image data value and the calculated regional maxima image data value; and whereby the enhanced image is formed from a resulting pixel array of enhanced image data values.