Dental occlusion analysis tool

• US 9,017,071 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hultgren Dental Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Bruce W. Hultgren
• Inventors: Hultgren, Bruce W., Isaacson, Robert, Marshall, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MORAN, EDWARD JOHN
• Application Number:
  US14/084,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20140205964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 433/2, 433/24, 433/68, 433/229
• US Class Current: 433/24
• 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 19/05 for determining occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An electronic 3D model of at least a portion of a maxillary arch of a patient is displayed. Inputs indicating a peak of a mesiobuccal cusp of a maxillary first molar are received for both the patient'"'"'s right and left sides. In addition, an electronic 3D model of at least a portion of a mandibular arch of a patient is displayed. Inputs indicating relevant points on the mandibular first molar are received for both the patient'"'"'s right and left sides. Side scores are generated for the patient'"'"'s right and left sides based on the indicated points. A final occlusion score for the patient is displayed. The final occlusion score is based on the side score for the right side and the side score for the left side.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a processing unit; and

a set of computer-readable data storage media comprising at least one computer-readable data storage medium, the set of computer-readable data storage media storing software instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the computing device to;

for both a right side of a patient and a left side of the patient;

display a three-dimensional (3D) model of at least a portion of a maxillary arch of the patient;

receive input indicating a first point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the maxillary arch, the first point corresponding to a tip of a mesiobuccal cusp of a maxillary first molar;

display an electronic 3D model of at least a portion of a mandibular arch of the patient;

receive input indicating a second point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the second point corresponding to a tip of a mesiobuccal cusp of a mandibular first molar;

receive input indicating a third point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the third point corresponding to a tip of a distobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar;

receive input indicating a fourth point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the fourth point corresponding to a contact point between the mandibular first molar and a mandibular second premolar;

receive input indicating a fifth point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the fifth point corresponding to a contact point between the mandibular first molar and a mandibular second molar;

generate a central axis by calculating a linear regression of points projected onto a plane by the second point, the third point, the fourth point, and the fifth point, the central axis being a line on the plane, the plane being parallel to an occlusal plane of the patient;

identify a location of a scoring intersection, the scoring intersection being a point where the central axis and a scoring line intersect, the scoring line being a line on the plane, the scoring line being perpendicular to the central axis and passing through a point projected onto the plane by the first point; and

generate a side score based on the location of the scoring intersection relative to measurement intersections, the measurement intersections being points where the central axis and measurement lines intersect, the measurement lines being lines on the plane, the measurement lines including lines perpendicular to the central axis and passing through the points projected onto the plane by the second point, the third point, the fourth point, and the fifth point; and

display a final occlusion score for the patient, the final occlusion score based on the side score for the right side and the side score for the left side.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the software instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the computing device to:

in response to receiving the input indicating the first point;

attempt to identify a true tip of the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar; and

adjust a position of the first point to correspond to the true tip of the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar;

in response to receiving the input indicating the second point;

attempt to identify a true tip of the mesiobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar; and

adjust a position of the second point to correspond to the true tip of the mesiobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar; and

in response to receiving the input indicating the third point;

attempt to identify a true tip of the distobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar; and

adjust a position of the third point to correspond to the true tip of the distobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the software instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the computing device to:

attempt, prior to receiving the input indicating the first point, to identify a true tip of the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar;

attempt, prior to receiving the input indicating the second point, to identify a true tip of the mesiobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar; and

attempt, prior to receiving the input indicating the third point, to identify a true tip of the distobuccal cusp of the mandibular first molar.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the software instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the computing device to:

display, in response to receiving the input indicating the first point, the first point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the maxillary arch;

display, in response to receiving the input indicating the second point, the second point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch;

display, in response to receiving the input indicating the third point, the third point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the software instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the computing device to:

display, on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the central axis, the measurement lines, the scoring line, the point projected onto the plane by the first point, the point projected onto the plane by the second point, the point projected onto the plane by the third point, the point projected onto the plane by the fourth point, and the point projected onto the plane by the fifth point.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the measurement lines further include:

lines perpendicular to the central axis and representing distances beyond the measurement line passing through the point projected onto the plane by the fourth point; and

lines perpendicular to the central axis and representing distances beyond the measurement line passing through the point projected onto the plane by the fifth point.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the software instructions, when executed by the processing unit, cause the computing device to calculate the final occlusion score by adding the side score for the right side and the side score for the left side.

8. A computer-readable data storage medium comprising software instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

for both a right side of a patient and a left side of the patient;

display a three-dimensional (3D) model of at least a portion of a maxillary arch of the patient;

receive input indicating a first point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the maxillary arch, the first point corresponding to a tip of a mesiobuccal cusp of a first maxillary molar;

display an electronic 3D model of at least a portion of a mandibular arch of the patient;

receive input indicating a second point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the second point corresponding to a tip of a mesiobuccal cusp of a first mandibular molar;

receive input indicating a third point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the third point corresponding to a tip of a distobuccal cusp of the first mandibular molar;

receive input indicating a fourth point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the fourth point corresponding to a contact point between the first mandibular molar and a second mandibular premolar;

receive input indicating a fifth point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the fifth point corresponding to a contact point between the first mandibular molar and a second mandibular molar;

generate a central axis by calculating a linear regression of points projected onto a plane by the second point, the third point, the fourth point, and the fifth point, the central axis being a line on the plane, the plane being parallel to an occlusal plane of the patient;

identify a location of a scoring intersection, the scoring intersection being a point where the central axis and a scoring line intersect, the scoring line being a line on the plane, the scoring line being perpendicular to the central axis and passing through a point projected onto the plane by the first point; and

generate a side score based on the location of the scoring intersection relative to measurement intersections, the measurement intersections being points where the central axis and measurement lines intersect, the measurement lines being lines on the plane, the measurement lines including lines perpendicular to the central axis and passing through the points projected onto the plane by the second point, the third point, the fourth point, and the fifth point; and

display a final occlusion score for the patient, the final occlusion score based on the side score for the right side and the side score for the left side.

9. A method for analyzing occlusion, the method comprising:

providing, to a computing device, input indicating a first point on an electronic 3D model of a portion of a maxillary arch of a patient, the first point corresponding to a tip of a mesiobuccal cusp of a first maxillary molar;

providing, to the computing device, input indicating a second point on an electronic 3D model of the portion of a mandibular arch of the patient, the second point corresponding to a tip of a mesiobuccal cusp of a first mandibular molar;

providing, to the computing device, input indicating a third point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the third point corresponding to a tip of a distobuccal cusp of the first mandibular molar;

providing, to the computing device, input indicating a fourth point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the fourth point corresponding to a contact point between the first mandibular molar and a second mandibular premolar; and

providing, to the computing device, input indicating a fifth point on the electronic 3D model of the portion of the mandibular arch, the fifth point corresponding to a contact point between the first mandibular molar and a second mandibular molar;

reviewing, by a user, a final occlusion score for the patient, the final occlusion score being based at least in part on a side score of the patient,

wherein the side score of the patient is based on a location of a scoring intersection relative to measurement intersections,

wherein the measurement intersections are points where a central axis and measurement lines intersect,

wherein the measurement lines are lines on a plane,

wherein the plane is parallel to an occlusal plane of the patient,

wherein the measurement lines include lines that are perpendicular to the central axis and that pass through points projected onto the plane by the second point, the third point, the fourth point, and the fifth point,

wherein the central axis is a linear regression of the points projected onto the plane by the second point, the third point, the fourth point, and the fifth point, the central axis being a line on the plane,

wherein the scoring intersection is a point where the central axis and a scoring line intersect,

wherein the scoring line is a line on the plane, and

wherein the scoring line is perpendicular to the central axis and passes through the point projected onto the plane by the first point.