Patent ID: 7929151

Claim:
An apparatus for obtaining images of a tooth, comprising: a) at least one image sensor disposed along an optical axis, the image sensor comprising common optical components for both diagnostic and cosmetic imaging; b) at least one broadband polarized illumination apparatus for reflectance imaging; c) a narrow-band ultraviolet illumination apparatus for fluorescence imaging; d) a near IR band polarized illumination apparatus for translucency imaging; e) one of a blue or UV band polarized illumination apparatus for texture imaging, the polarization orthogonal to polarization of the broad band illumination apparatus and the near IR band illumination apparatus; f) one or more polarization elements disposed along the optical axis to eliminate specular reflection; g) a filter disposed along the optical axis to block narrow-band ultraviolet light; and h) a switch for selecting one of the operation modes of diagnostic imaging using reflectance and fluorescence imaging, and cosmetic imaging using reflectance imaging, translucency imaging, and texture imaging.