DIGITAL DENTISTRY

• US 20090298017A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medit Corp.
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Schiessl, Simon K.J., Girard, Michael P., Rohaly, Janos, Paley, Eric B., Weeks, Steven V., Boerjes, Joseph, Altobelli, David E., Rosenbloom, Micah J., Tekeian, Edward K., Johnston, Douglas M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/214
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1077 Measuring of profiles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 11/08 with means to secure dental casts to articulator
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 11/085 Intermediary adjustment plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0022 Blanks or green, unfinished dental restoration parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0046 Data acquisition means or methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0086 Acoustic means or methods
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2513 with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/30 Polynomial surface description
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist'"'"'s office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.

Claims

1-347. -347. (canceled)

348. A method comprising:

seating a dental patient in a clinical office;

acquiring a digital dental impression including three-dimensional digital surface data for one or more intraoral structures from an intraoral scan of the dental patient;

transmitting the digital dental impression to a dental laboratory before the patient leaves the office;

receiving an evaluation of the digital dental impression from the dental laboratory before the patient leaves the office; and

if the evaluation is unfavorable, repeating the step of acquiring the digital dental impression.

349. The method of claim 348, wherein the evaluation includes an identification of at least one region of the one or more intraoral structures requiring additional preparation, the method including preparing the one or more intraoral structures according to the evaluation.

350. The method of claim 348, wherein the evaluation includes an evaluation of surface continuity.

351. The method of claim 348, wherein the evaluation includes an evaluation of data density.

352. The method of claim 348, wherein the evaluation includes an evaluation of feature detail.

353. The method of claim 348, wherein one or more intraoral structures includes a tooth surface prepared for a dental restoration.

354. The method of claim 353, wherein the digital dental impression includes a case plan for the restoration.

355. The method of claim 354, wherein the case plan includes a type of restoration.

356. The method of claim 354, wherein the case plan includes a design of restoration.

357. The method of claim 354, wherein the case plan includes a list of restoration components.

358. The method of claim 357, wherein the list of restoration components includes a full ceramic component.

359. The method of claim 357, wherein the list of restoration components includes a PFM component.

360. The method of claim 354, wherein the case plan includes a specification of one or more restoration materials.

361. The method of claim 348 wherein the evaluation includes an evaluation of a margin around a tooth prepared for a restoration.

362. A system comprising:

a means for acquiring a digital dental impression, the digital dental impression including three-dimensional digital surface data for one or more intraoral structures from an intraoral scan of a dental patient seated in a clinical office;

a request means for transmitting the digital dental impression to a dental laboratory before the patient leaves the office;

an evaluation means for determining if the digital dental impression must be reacquired before the patient leaves the office; and

a response means for transmitting the determination to the clinical office.

366. The system of claim 362, wherein one or more intraoral structures includes a tooth surface prepared for a dental restoration.

367. The system of claim 366, wherein the digital dental impression includes a case plan for the restoration.

368. The system of claim 367, wherein the case plan includes a type of restoration.

369. The system of claim 367, wherein the case plan includes a design of restoration.

370. The system of claim 367, wherein the case plan includes a list of restoration components.

363-365. -365. (canceled)

371-472. -472. (canceled)