Automatic intraoral 3D scanner with low coherence ranging

An intraoral scanning apparatus has a source of low coherence light. An interferometer directs the low coherence light to a reference path and a sample path and generates image data according to interference from combined light returned along the reference and sample paths. A fixture is optically coupled to the sample path and has a bite portion featured for clamping between the jaws of a patient, a track that defines a curved scan path for scanning, one or more scanners configured to direct the sample path light to and from the teeth, and an actuator and translation apparatus that urges the one or more scanners along the curved scan path. A control logic processor synchronizes light scanning and acquisition from the fixture. A display is in signal communication with the control logic processor for display of acquired scan data.