Method and system for providing feedback data useful in prosthodontic procedures associated with the intra oral cavity

• US 9,730,779 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kopelman, Avi, Taub, Eldad
• Primary Examiner(s): EIDE, HEIDI MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/288,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20140342302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/26 Dentures without palates; Partial dentures, e.g. bridges
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/00 Dental auxiliary appliances dental chairs or accessories therefor, working stands whether or not combined with chairs A61G15/00
• 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 5/70 Tooth crowns; Making thereof
• 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

Feedback data useful in prosthodontic procedures associated with the intra oral cavity is provided. First, a 3D numerical model of the target zone in the intra oral cavity is provided, and this is manipulated so as to extract particular data that may be useful in a particular procedure, for example data relating to the finish line or to the shape and size of a preparation. The relationship between this data and the procedure is then determined, for example the clearance between the preparation and the intended crown. Feedback data, indicative of this relationship, is then generated, for example whether the preparation geometry is adequate for the particular type of prosthesis.

Claims

1. A system for providing feedback useful in at least one prosthodontic procedure associated with an intraoral cavity, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, including instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to at least;

(a) obtain desired data relating to a first procedure comprising mounting of a dental prosthesis to a dental preparation in the intraoral cavity, wherein the desired data comprises information regarding a geometry of at least a portion of the dental preparation,

(b) determine, based on the desired data and the first procedure, external surfaces of a virtual model of the dental prosthesis that would interfere or collide with one or more teeth adjacent to the dental preparation during an insertion of the dental prosthesis onto the dental preparation, and

(c) generate feedback data based on the determination of step (b) comprising one or more suggested changes to the dental preparation to enable mounting of the dental prosthesis to the dental preparation without interference between external surfaces of the dental prosthesis and the one or more teeth adjacent to the dental preparation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises testing an adequacy of the desired data for performing the first procedure according to at least one predetermined parameter, and wherein step (c) comprises generating feedback data representative of the adequacy.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the desired data relates to at least one predetermined dimension between the dental preparation and the dental prosthesis, and wherein step (b) comprises determining that the at least one predetermined dimension is unsuitable for enabling the dental prosthesis to be received according to predetermined parameters.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to:

(d) provide a dimension that is suitable for receiving the dental prosthesis according to predetermined parameters.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the suggested changes are determined taking into consideration a type of the dental prosthesis to be mounted on the dental preparation.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the suggested changes are displayed on a two-dimensional representation of the dental preparation, and wherein the suggested changes to the geometry of the dental preparation are superimposed over the two-dimensional representation of the dental preparation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired data relates to an insertion path geometry for the dental prosthesis with respect to the dental preparation and surrounding dental tissues, and wherein step (b) comprises determining that the insertion path geometry is unsuitable for enabling the dental prosthesis to be mounted with respect to the dental preparation according to predetermined parameters.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to:

(d) provide a suggested new insertion path geometry that is suitable for receiving the dental prosthesis according to predetermined parameters.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more suggested changes are determined based on identifying overlapping areas between the dental prosthesis and the dental preparation.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more suggested changes are displayed on a two-dimensional representation of the dental preparation, and wherein the new insertion path geometry is superimposed over the two-dimensional representation.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein steps (a) to (c) are repeated after a material removal operation in which further material has been removed from the dental preparation to conform the dental preparation to the new insertion path geometry.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein steps (a) to (c) are repeated concurrently with each of one or more material removal operations, said each one or more material removal operations being adapted to conform the dental preparation to the new insertion path geometry, and wherein step (d) is evaluated at each of said one or more material removal operation.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired data is generated based on scan data comprising at least one numerical entity representative of a three-dimensional surface geometry of a part of the intraoral cavity comprising the dental preparation and the one or more teeth adjacent to the dental preparation, the scan data being generated by scanning the part of the intraoral cavity using a suitable three-dimensional surface scanner.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired data is at least partially generated by simulating the first procedure.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to at least:

(a) obtain desired data relating to a first procedure comprising mounting of a dental prosthesis to a dental preparation in an intraoral cavity, the desired data comprising information regarding a geometry of at least a portion of the dental preparation;

(b) determine, based on the desired data and the first procedure, external surfaces of a virtual model of the dental prosthesis that would interfere or collide with one or more teeth adjacent to the dental preparation during an insertion of the dental prosthesis onto the dental preparation; and

(c) generate feedback data based on the determination of step (b) comprising one or more suggested changes to the dental preparation to enable mounting of the dental prosthesis to the dental preparation without interference between external surfaces of the dental prosthesis and the one or more teeth adjacent to the dental preparation.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the desired data is generated based on scan data comprising at least one numerical entity representative of a three-dimensional surface geometry of a part of the intraoral cavity comprising the dental preparation and the one or more teeth adjacent to the dental preparation, the scan data being generated by scanning the part of the intraoral cavity using a suitable three-dimensional surface scanner.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the scanning the part of the intraoral cavity comprises the steps of:

(i) scanning the part of the intraoral cavity to provide the at least one numerical entity;

(ii) determining that a definition of the at least one numerical entity is insufficient for enabling step (b) to be performed;

(iii) after determining that the definition is insufficient, advising a user to continue scanning a different part of the intraoral cavity until the definition is sufficient; and

(iv) following the definition becoming sufficient, advising a user that the definition is sufficient, and proceeding with steps (a) to (c).

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the at least one numerical entity comprises color data of the part of the intraoral cavity, and wherein step (a) comprises differentiating parts of the at least one numerical entity according to whether the color associated therewith is correlated with soft tissues or hard tissues of the intraoral cavity.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the scanning is performed in one location, and at least one of steps (a) to (c) is performed in at least one different location.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the scanning is performed substantially in real time with respect to step (c).