An example embodiment of a dental tool includes a main body portion having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, wherein the first end and the second end define respective reduced diameter portions, two or more tool attachments, each tool attachment comprising a working portion and a base portion, the base portion configured to be removably coupled to either of the reduced-diameter portions of the main body portion so as to secure the tool attachment to the main body portion, and a light source, disposed within the main body portion, arranged so as to illuminate the working portion of one of the tool attachments when the one of the tool attachments is coupled to the first end of the main body portion and the light source is electrically coupled to a power source.

A method in which a digital picture of the tip of a dental scaler tool and other uniquely identifying characteristics is used to measure the extent of wear on the tool. Unique characteristics of the dental scaler tool, such as color and shape of the grip, narrow a set of reference images to a subset of likely matching tip reference images. A digital contour of the worn tip is isolated. Characteristics of the physical shape of each available tips have been stored in a digital library of reference images. The same tip shape characteristics are developed for the tip contour that were stored for each reference image. The digital profile of the worn tip and a matching, selected reference image of the tip from a library of digitally overlaid. An accurate measurement of the extent of wear of the insert tip is made and displayed.

An apparatus for tooth stain removal is presented. The invention comprises a powered device with a chisel tip at its distal end, a body at its proximal end and an electric motor housed within the body for driving the chisel tip. The chisel tip has a proximal end removably coupled to the body and an exposed distal end along a generally longitudinal axis. The chisel tip comprises a pointed end on a first side for cleaning area between teeth and a broad cleaning surface on a second side for cleaning the main surface of each tooth. The chisel tip operates in a reciprocating motion driven by the electric motor. The reciprocating motion repeatedly moves the chisel tip in a back and forth direction by a finite displacement along the chisel tip's longitudinal axis.

Herein disclosed are robotic dentistry methods comprising teeth cleaning methods and article of manufacture comprising components to perform teeth cleaning. Robotic teeth cleaning may comprise determining if the correct teeth are targeted, based on a scanned image; determining a cleanliness state of each of the individual teeth based on the scanned image; selecting a cleaning technique determined as a function of the cleanliness state; and cleaning the teeth using the selected cleaning technique. Robotic teeth cleaning may comprise receiving an initial cleaning plan to clean a tooth or teeth; presenting, to a dental professional for approval, the initial cleaning plan for approval; upon approval, cleaning the teeth according to the approved initial cleaning plan; upon rejection, modifying the initial cleaning plan based on dental professional input; receiving the modified cleaning plan to clean the teeth; presenting, to a dental professional for approval, the modified cleaning plan for approval; and upon approval of the modified cleaning plan, cleaning the teeth according to the approved modified cleaning plan.

Herein disclosed are robotic dentistry methods comprising teeth cleaning methods and article of manufacture comprising components to perform teeth cleaning. Robotic teeth cleaning may comprise determining if the correct teeth are targeted, based on a scanned image; determining a cleanliness state of each of the individual teeth based on the scanned image; selecting a cleaning technique determined as a function of the cleanliness state; and cleaning the teeth using the selected cleaning technique. Robotic teeth cleaning may comprise receiving an initial cleaning plan to clean a tooth or teeth; presenting, to a dental professional for approval, the initial cleaning plan for approval; upon approval, cleaning the teeth according to the approved initial cleaning plan; upon rejection, modifying the initial cleaning plan based on dental professional input; receiving the modified cleaning plan to clean the teeth; presenting, to a dental professional for approval, the modified cleaning plan for approval; and upon approval of the modified cleaning plan, cleaning the teeth according to the approved modified cleaning plan.