There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for enhancing the illumination of structures of the eye using predetermined scan patterns of an illuminating light beam. The system performs well with highly complex images as well as images having different brightness and illumination conditions. Notches with stress relief vertices are provided in a flange of the spline to facilitate bending. From the analysis of the transmission time andor the resulting waveform, diagnostic information results as to the presence of dental disease such as dental caries that may be present on the tooth surface under dental restorations such as fillings or metal crowns. There is then a search for identical roots in the respective other document.