Unitary dental model

• US 10,016,262 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Sabina, Michael, Kopelman, Avi, Sharabi, Yoram
• Primary Examiner(s): LUCCHESI, NICHOLAS D
• Application Number:
  US14/306,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 433213, 433214
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/34 Making or working of models, e.g. preliminary castings, trial dentures; Dowel pins [4]
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0001 Impression means for implants, e.g. impression coping
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

Improved dental models for use in dental procedures are provided. In one aspect, a unitary dental model of an intraoral cavity of a patient having a dental implant comprises a physical surface representative of gingival tissue of the patient. The model can comprise a channel shaped and oriented to receive an abutment corresponding to a physical abutment to be connected to the dental implant, in which the channel extends to an opening in the physical surface. The channel can comprise a first portion shaped to receive and constrain a corresponding structure of the abutment to a position and orientation and a second portion shaped to receive a fastener to couple the abutment to the unitary dental model. In many embodiments, the first portion comprises a shoulder shaped to receive the corresponding structure of the abutment in order to position the abutment along the channel.

Claims

1. A unitary dental model of an intraoral cavity of a patient having a dental implant, the model comprising:

a physical surface representative of gingival tissue of the patient; and

a channel extending through the unitary dental model and shaped and oriented to receive an abutment corresponding to a physical abutment to be connected to the dental implant, wherein the channel extends to an opening in the physical surface, the channel comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion shaped to receive and constrain a corresponding structure of the abutment to a position and orientation using only a plurality of mechanical stops and having a shape complementary to the shape of the abutment, the second portion shaped to receive a fastener to couple the abutment to the unitary dental model;

wherein the first portion comprises a shoulder shaped to receive the corresponding structure of the abutment in order to position the abutment along the channel, the shoulder extending from a surface of the first portion and to a surface of the second portion, and

wherein the shape of the first portion constrains the corresponding structure of the abutment to the position and orientation while the shoulder is in contact with said corresponding structure of the abutment.

2. The model of claim 1, wherein the physical surface comprises physical models of one or more teeth and a physical model of gingival tissue extending between the one or more teeth, and wherein the physical models of the one or more teeth are representative of one or more teeth of the intraoral cavity near the dental implant.

3. The model of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a maximum cross-sectional dimension sized larger than a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the second portion.

4. The model of claim 1, wherein the first portion is shaped to correspond to a portion of the dental implant that receives and constrains a corresponding structure of the physical abutment.

5. The model of claim 1, wherein the second portion extends to an opening in a bottom surface opposite the physical surface, and wherein the opening in the bottom surface is shaped to accommodate a nut for securing the abutment and fastener to the unitary dental model.

6. The model of claim 1, wherein the first portion is shaped to receive and constrain the corresponding structure of the abutment to a predetermined position and orientation.

7. The model of claim 6, wherein the predetermined position and orientation corresponds to a position and orientation of the physical abutment when connected to the dental implant in the intraoral cavity.

8. The model of claim 6, wherein the channel is an elongate channel comprising a longitudinal axis, and the predetermined position and orientation is defined by one or more of the longitudinal axis, shoulder, or opening.

9. The model of claim 8, wherein the predetermined orientation comprises a predetermined rotational angle about the longitudinal axis.

10. The model of claim 8, wherein the predetermined orientation comprises a predetermined rotational angle away from the longitudinal axis.

11. The model of claim 8, wherein the corresponding structure of the abutment comprises a lower engagement surface and the shoulder is shaped to receive and mate with the lower engagement surface in order to position the corresponding structure at a location along the longitudinal axis.

12. The model of claim 11, further comprising the abutment comprising the corresponding structure comprising the lower engagement surface.