Program and index value calculation device

Abstract

To provide novel technology for analyzing an intraoral state using three-dimensional data representing the oral cavity.SOLUTION: A program according to the present disclosure causes a computer to execute: an acquisition step for acquiring intraoral three-dimensional data in which the teeth of a subject and a peripheral region of the teeth are included; and a calculation step for calculating a gum state index value which is an index value related to the gum state of the subject and an alveolar bone absorption index value which is an index value related to the absorption of the alveolar bone of the subject, or both of these values, as a state index value which is an index value related to the state of teeth of the subject, by using the three-dimensional data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and an index value calculation device. [Background technology]

[0002] Techniques for predicting and diagnosing periodontal-related diseases using data representing intraoral information have been disclosed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for examining gingivitis by comparing periodontal image data captured within the oral cavity with reference color data, which is gingival color data indicating the state of gingivitis. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for generating an oral photograph by combining multiple partial images of the oral cavity and determining the presence and state of a predetermined disease within the oral cavity based on image characteristics of a predetermined target region. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for estimating the state of an oral target region from image data of the oral region captured by a camera and determining the state of the oral target region based on the estimated result and predetermined reference information. Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for predicting oral health by analyzing oral photographs using a machine learning algorithm to comprehensively analyze orthodontic treatment status, caries status, periodontitis status, prosthetic status, and a medical questionnaire. Patent Document 5 discloses a technique for estimating the presence or absence of periodontal disease by inputting an image of the periodontal region of an intraoral image into a model. Patent Document 6 discloses a technology for identifying areas in the oral cavity that are likely to cause disease by applying three-dimensional data of the shape of the oral cavity to an estimation model including a neural network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-030587 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-155027 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-053175 [Patent Document 4] Special Publication No. 2022-508923 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-073148 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-012199 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The information about the oral cavity includes information about the state of the gums and the resorption of alveolar bone. None of the above-mentioned patent documents mentions the use of three-dimensional data representing the oral cavity to analyze the state of the gums or the resorption of alveolar bone. The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a new technique for analyzing the state of the oral cavity using three-dimensional data representing the oral cavity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The program disclosed herein causes a computer to execute an acquisition step of acquiring an image of an oral cavity including the teeth of a subject and the areas surrounding those teeth, and a calculation step of using the oral cavity image to calculate a gingival condition index value, which is an index value related to the gingival condition of the subject, an alveolar bone resorption index value, which is an index value related to the resorption of the alveolar bone of the subject, or both of these.

[0006] The index value calculation device disclosed herein includes an acquisition unit that acquires an image of the oral cavity that includes the teeth of a subject and the areas surrounding those teeth, and a calculation unit that uses the oral cavity image to calculate a gingival condition index value that is an index value related to the gingival condition of the subject, an alveolar bone resorption index value that is an index value related to the resorption of the alveolar bone of the subject, or both of these. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a new technique for analyzing the condition of the oral cavity using three-dimensional data representing the oral cavity is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an outline of the operation of an index value calculation device. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the position of various parts of a tooth in relation to condition index values. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an index value calculation device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that realizes an index value calculation device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by an index value calculation device. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow for calculating a gingival condition index value. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of cases in which a gingival condition index value is calculated using a gingival condition index value calculation model. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which PPD is calculated using a first prediction model. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which CAL is calculated using a first prediction model. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a gingival condition index value is calculated using a first feature amount calculation model and a gingival condition index value calculation model. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which PPD is calculated using a first feature amount calculation model and a first prediction model. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a first feature amount calculated without using a first feature amount calculation model is used by a gingival condition index value calculation model. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a first feature amount calculated without using a first feature amount calculation model is used by a first prediction model. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a part of a tooth of interest is included in both the region of interest and the related region. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a region of interest that includes only a part of a tooth of interest, and two related regions. [Figure 16]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a gingival condition index value 20 is calculated using a gingival condition index value calculation model to which a region of interest and a related region are input. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which PPD is calculated using a first prediction model to which a region of interest and a related region are input. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow for calculating an alveolar bone resorption index value. [Figure 19] 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an alveolar bone resorption index value is calculated using an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model. FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated using the second prediction model. [Figure 21] 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an alveolar bone resorption index value is calculated using a third feature amount calculation model and an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the alveolar bone resorption level is calculated using the third feature amount calculation model and the second prediction model. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a third feature amount calculated without using the third feature amount calculation model is used by the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a third feature amount calculated without using a third feature amount calculation model is used by a second prediction model. [Figure 25] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which an alveolar bone resorption index value is calculated using an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model to which a region of interest and a related region are input. FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated using a second prediction model to which a region of interest and a related region are input. [Figure 27] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an index value calculation device that performs a discrimination process using index values. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating training of a gingival condition index value calculation model. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 illustrates training of a first prediction model. [Figure 30] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of training of a first feature amount calculation model and a gingival condition index value calculation model. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of training of a gingival condition index calculation model, to which a first feature amount calculated by a predetermined algorithm is input. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 illustrates training of a gingival condition index calculation model in which relevant regions are used. [Figure 33] FIG. 1 illustrates the training of a first predictive model in which relevant regions are used. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating training of an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model. [Figure 35] FIG. 10 illustrates training of a second prediction model. [Figure 36] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of training of a third feature amount calculation model and an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model. FIG. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of training of an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model, to which a third feature amount calculated by a predetermined algorithm is input. [Figure 38] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the training of an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model in which a related region is used. [Figure 39] FIG. 10 illustrates the training of a second predictive model in which relevant regions are used. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted as necessary for clarity. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, predetermined values ​​such as predetermined values ​​and threshold values ​​are stored in advance in a storage device accessible from a device that uses the values. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the storage unit is composed of one or any number of storage devices.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an outline of the operation of the index value calculation device 2000. Here, Fig. 1 is a diagram for facilitating understanding of the outline of the index value calculation device 2000, and the operation of the index value calculation device 2000 is not limited to the operation shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] The index value calculation device 2000 acquires three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. The three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 represents the three-dimensional shapes of the teeth present in the oral cavity of a subject and the surfaces of the periodontal regions of those teeth. Any data capable of representing the three-dimensional shape of an object can be used for the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. Examples of data representing the three-dimensional shape of an object include a three-dimensional model (e.g., voxel data or mesh data) and point cloud data. The three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 may represent not only the three-dimensional shape of the oral cavity of the subject, but also the color distribution within the oral cavity of the subject. For example, when the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 is mesh data, the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 represents the three-dimensional shape of the oral cavity of the subject using multiple meshes, and further represents the color distribution within the oral cavity of the subject by indicating the color of each mesh. The three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 may include one or more teeth.

[0012] The index value calculation device 2000 uses the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 to calculate a condition index value, which is an index value related to the condition of the teeth of the subject. As the condition index value, a gingival condition index value 20, an alveolar bone resorption index value 30, or both are calculated. The gingival condition index value 20 is an index value that represents the condition of the gingiva. The index value that represents the gingival condition is, for example, a value that represents the clinical attachment level (CAL), the probing pocket depth (PPD), the presence or absence of bleeding on probing (BOP), or the class of furcation disease. The gingival condition index value 20 calculated by the index value calculation device 2000 is a predicted value of these various index values.

[0013] CAL represents the distance from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) measured with a periodontal probe to the bottom of the gingival sulcus or pocket, and is an index that indicates the state of attachment of the gums to the tooth surface. PPD represents the distance from the gingival margin to the tip of the probe when inserting the periodontal probe, and like CAL, is an index that indicates the state of attachment of the gums to the tooth surface. Generally, the tip of the probe is the bottom of the pocket. CAL and PPD are expressed in numerical values, for example, in 1mm or 0.5mm units.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the positions of various tooth regions associated with condition index values. Fig. 2 shows the gingival margin, CEJ, pocket bottom, alveolar crest, and root apex as tooth regions associated with index values. In Fig. 2, the position of each region is expressed as a relative position, with the gingival margin position being the reference (i.e., zero).

[0015] For example, CAL can be expressed as the distance from the CEJ to the pocket bottom. In Figure 2, the CEJ and pocket bottom are located at -1 mm and 5 mm, respectively. Therefore, CAL is 5-(-1)=6 mm.

[0016] BOP is bleeding from the pocket bottom upon probing, and the presence or absence of this bleeding can be used to assess the resistance and presence of inflammation at the pocket bottom.

[0017] Furcation disease is a condition in which periodontal or pulp disease has spread to the interradicular spaces of multi-rooted (or compound) teeth. When the Lindhe and Hyman furcation disease classification is used, furcation disease is classified into three classes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. When the Glickman furcation disease classification is used, furcation disease is classified into four classes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

[0018] The index value calculation device 2000 may calculate multiple types of gingival condition index values ​​20, such as CAL and PPD.

[0019] The alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is an index value that represents the degree of alveolar bone resorption. The index value related to alveolar bone resorption is, for example, a value that represents the degree of alveolar bone resorption (Bone Level: BL) or the alveolar bone resorption ratio (ABR ratio). The alveolar bone resorption is calculated from the ratio of the resorbed alveolar bone distance to the root length. Specifically, the alveolar bone resorption is calculated as B / A, where A is the distance from the CEJ to the root apex and B is the distance from the CEJ to the alveolar bone crest. The alveolar bone resorption is expressed, for example, as a real number between 0 and 1. The alveolar bone resorption ratio is calculated as B / A*100 [%] using the aforementioned A and B. The alveolar bone resorption index value 30 calculated by the index value calculation device 2000 is a predicted value of these various index values.

[0020] For example, in Figure 2, the positions of the CEJ, root apex, and alveolar bone crest are -1 mm, 15 mm, and 7 mm, respectively. Therefore, when calculating the degree of alveolar bone resorption, A = 15 - (-1) = 16 mm and B = 7 - (-1) = 8 mm. Therefore, the degree of alveolar bone resorption is 8 / 16 = 0.5.

[0021] The index value calculation device 2000 may calculate a plurality of types of alveolar bone resorption index values ​​30, such as the degree of alveolar bone resorption and the alveolar bone resorption rate.

[0022] <Examples of effects> Periodontal disease, also known as periodontal disease, is broadly divided into gingival lesions and periodontitis. Gingival lesions, particularly plaque-induced gingivitis, are inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria present at the gingival margin. Periodontitis, particularly chronic periodontitis, is a chronic inflammatory disease accompanied by attachment loss and alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontal pathogenic bacteria. For this reason, understanding the condition of the gums and alveolar bone resorption is useful in diagnosing periodontal-related diseases.

[0023] For example, according to the 2018 American Academy of Periodontology / European Federation of Periodontology (AFP) new classification of periodontitis, the severity of periodontitis is classified into stages I to IV based on CAL, bone resorption, and the number of teeth lost due to periodontitis. Meanwhile, according to the 2022 Guidelines for Periodontal Treatment by the Japanese Society of Periodontology, plaque-induced gingivitis and periodontitis are diagnosed according to the classification of periodontal disease based on periodontal tissue examinations and other factors. Periodontitis is classified by the degree of tissue destruction in individual tooth diagnosis based on the presence or absence of BL, CAL, or furcation involvement. Periodontitis is classified by the degree of inflammation based on PPD. Furthermore, according to a report by the Periodontal Medicine Committee of the Japanese Society of Periodontology, the committee's recommended severity classification is as follows: alveolar bone resorption of 25% or less is clinically mild, 25% to 35% is clinically moderate, and 35% or more is clinically severe.

[0024] Here, CAL, PPD, BOP, or furcation lesions, which are indicators of gingival condition, can be identified by measurement using a probe. Furthermore, the alveolar bone resorption level and alveolar bone resorption rate, which are indicators of alveolar bone resorption, can be identified by measurement using X-ray images. However, these methods have the problem that they are difficult to perform unless performed by someone with specialized knowledge and skills (such as a dentist). Furthermore, measurement using a probe has the problem of being cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, measurement using X-ray images has the problem of requiring expensive and specialized equipment and facilities, such as an X-ray device and an X-ray room, and the subject is exposed to radiation.

[0025] In this regard, the index value calculation device 2000 calculates, using the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10, a gingival condition index value 20, which is a predicted value of an index representing the gingival condition, an alveolar bone resorption index value 30, which is a predicted value of an index representing the degree of alveolar bone resorption, or both. When the gingival condition index value 20 is calculated by the index value calculation device 2000, the index value calculation device 2000 can be used to calculate an index representing the gingival condition without actually measuring the subject using a probe. Therefore, by using the index value calculation device 2000, even people without specialized knowledge or skills can easily calculate the gingival condition index value 20. Furthermore, by using the index value calculation device 2000, the gingival condition index value 20 can be easily calculated without performing cumbersome and time-consuming measurements using a probe.

[0026] Furthermore, when the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated by the index value calculation device 2000, the index value calculation device 2000 can be used to calculate an index value representing alveolar bone resorption without taking an X-ray of the subject's oral cavity. Therefore, by using the index value calculation device 2000, even a person without specialized knowledge or skills can easily calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. Furthermore, by using the index value calculation device 2000, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be calculated without using expensive and specialized equipment or facilities such as an X-ray imaging device or X-ray equipment. Furthermore, by using the index value calculation device 2000, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be calculated without concerns about radiation exposure.

[0027] The index value calculation device 2000 of this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0028] <Example of functional configuration> 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the index value calculation device 2000. The index value calculation device 2000 has an acquisition unit 2020 and a calculation unit 2040. The acquisition unit 2020 acquires three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. The calculation unit 2040 uses the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 to calculate a gingival condition index value 20, an alveolar bone resorption index value 30, or both.

[0029] <Example of hardware configuration> Each functional component of the index value calculation device 2000 may be realized by hardware that realizes the functional component (e.g., a hardwired electronic circuit, etc.), or may be realized by a combination of hardware and software (e.g., a combination of an electronic circuit and a program that controls it, etc.). Below, a case where each functional component of the index value calculation device 2000 is realized by a combination of hardware and software will be further described.

[0030] 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 1000 that realizes the index value calculation device 2000. The computer 1000 is any computer. For example, the computer 1000 is a stationary computer such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a server machine. Alternatively, the computer 1000 may be a portable computer such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The computer 1000 may be a dedicated computer designed to realize the index value calculation device 2000, or may be a general-purpose computer.

[0031] For example, by installing a predetermined application on the computer 1000, the functions of the index value calculation device 2000 are realized on the computer 1000. The application is configured by a program for realizing each functional component of the index value calculation device 2000.

[0032] The program may be acquired by any method. For example, the program may be acquired from a storage medium (such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory) on which the program is stored. Alternatively, the program may be acquired by downloading the program from a server device that manages the storage device on which the program is stored.

[0033] The computer 1000 has a bus 1020, a processor 1040, a memory 1060, a storage device 1080, an input / output interface 1100, and a network interface 1120. The bus 1020 is a data transmission path for the processor 1040, the memory 1060, the storage device 1080, the input / output interface 1100, and the network interface 1120 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. However, the method for connecting the processor 1040 and the like to each other is not limited to a bus connection.

[0034] The processor 1040 is a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a digital signal processor (DSP). The memory 1060 is a main storage device realized using a random access memory (RAM) or the like. The storage device 1080 is an auxiliary storage device realized using a hard disk, a solid state drive (SSD), a memory card, or a read only memory (ROM) or the like.

[0035] The input / output interface 1100 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 to an input / output device. For example, the input / output interface 1100 is connected to an input device such as a keyboard and an output device such as a display device.

[0036] The network interface 1120 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 to a network. This network may be a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

[0037] The storage device 1080 stores a program (a program that realizes the above-mentioned application) that realizes each functional component of the index value calculation device 2000. The processor 1040 reads this program into the memory 1060 and executes it, thereby realizing each functional component of the index value calculation device 2000.

[0038] The index value calculation device 2000 may be realized by one computer 1000, or may be realized by multiple computers 1000. In the latter case, the configurations of the computers 1000 do not need to be the same, and can be different from each other.

[0039] The index value calculation device 2000 may be installed in a location where the subject's oral cavity is imaged, such as a health checkup facility, or may be installed in a location other than a location where the subject's oral cavity is imaged. In the latter case, for example, the index value calculation device 2000 can be realized as a server device configured to receive the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 from a terminal used to image the subject's oral cavity.

[0040] <Processing flow> 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the index value calculation device 2000. The acquisition unit 2020 acquires the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 (S102). The calculation unit 2040 uses the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, or both of them (S104).

[0041] Here, when the calculation unit 2040 calculates both the gingival condition index value 20 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the calculation of the gingival condition index value 20 and the calculation of the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be performed in any order. Furthermore, the calculation of the gingival condition index value 20 and the calculation of the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 may be performed in parallel.

[0042] <How to generate 3D oral cavity data 10> The three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 is generated, for example, by capturing images of the subject's teeth and the periodontal region of the teeth using an arbitrary imaging device. Note that existing technology can be used to generate data representing the three-dimensional shape and color distribution of an object using an imaging device.

[0043] The imaging device used to generate the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 may be, for example, a smartphone camera, a general-purpose digital camera, a dental digital camera, a dental camera for intraoral photography, a 3D scanner, an intraoral 3D scanner, or a dental 3D scanner. The imaging device is not limited to a device that captures visible light, but may also be a device that captures near-infrared light, or a device that captures reflected light consisting of a single or multiple wavelengths when irradiated with a single wavelength from visible to near-infrared.

[0044] The light source used to image the subject's teeth may be any light source, such as sunlight, incandescent light, fluorescent light, LED, laser light, or near-infrared light source, etc. The amount of light irradiated into the oral cavity may be adjusted using a grating or a wavelength-selective filter.

[0045] The three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 may also be generated using a ranging device such as LiDAR (light detection and ranging). For example, by scanning the oral cavity of a subject using a ranging device, point cloud data representing the three-dimensional shape of the oral cavity of the subject can be obtained. Furthermore, the point cloud data thus obtained can be used to generate a three-dimensional model such as mesh data.

[0046] <Acquisition of oral 3D data 10: S102> The acquisition unit 2020 acquires the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 (S102). There are various methods for the acquisition unit 2020 to acquire the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. For example, the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 is stored in advance in a storage unit accessible from the index value calculation device 2000. In this case, the acquisition unit 2020 acquires the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 from the storage unit.

[0047] When a plurality of pieces of oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 are stored in the storage unit, for example, the acquisition unit 2020 receives a designation of the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 to be used from the user of the index value calculation device 2000. The acquisition unit 2020 acquires the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 designated by the user from the plurality of pieces of oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 stored in the storage unit.

[0048] Here, the storage unit in which the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 is stored may be a storage unit (e.g., storage device 1080) provided inside the index value calculation device 2000, or may be a storage unit provided outside the index value calculation device 2000. For example, if an imaging device that generates the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 is provided in the index value calculation device 2000, the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 generated by the imaging device may be stored in a storage unit inside the index value calculation device 2000. Therefore, the index value calculation device 2000 acquires the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 stored in the storage unit inside the index value calculation device 2000.

[0049] The acquisition unit 2020 may acquire the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 by receiving the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 transmitted from another device. In this case, for example, the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 is transmitted to the index value calculation device 2000 from a terminal operated by a user of the index value calculation device 2000 (hereinafter referred to as a user terminal).

[0050] Alternatively, for example, the acquisition unit 2020 may acquire one or more images of the subject's oral cavity from an imaging device and generate the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 using the acquired images. Here, the imaging device may be provided in a user terminal. In this case, for example, a user operates the user terminal to cause the imaging device to capture an image of the subject's oral cavity, thereby causing the imaging device to generate an image of the subject's oral cavity. Thereafter, the user further operates the user terminal to transmit the image from the user terminal to the index value calculation device 2000.

[0051] The acquisition unit 2020 may apply predetermined image processing to an image obtained from the imaging device and generate the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 using the processed image. For example, the acquisition unit 2020 acquires an image generated by capturing an image of the subject's oral cavity without using a filter and applies predetermined filter processing to this image. The acquisition unit 2020 then generates the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 using the filtered image. Examples of filter processing that can be used include wavelength selection filter application processing to obtain an image of only a specific wavelength range and polarization filter application processing to reduce the effects of reflection, etc.

[0052] <Calculation of status index value: S104> The calculation unit 2040 calculates the gingival condition index value 20, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, or both of them using the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 (S104). Below, the calculation method of the gingival condition index value 20 and the calculation method of the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 will be described respectively.

[0053] <<Calculation method for gingival condition index value 20>> For example, the calculation unit 2040 extracts a region of interest, which is a three-dimensional region including a tooth and the periodontal region of the tooth, from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10, and uses this region of interest to calculate the gingival condition index value 20. Hereinafter, the tooth and the periodontal region of the tooth that are the targets for predicting the condition index value will be referred to as the tooth of interest and the periodontal region of the tooth, respectively.

[0054] The region of interest includes a portion that is the target of condition index value prediction. When the entire tooth of interest is the target of condition index value prediction, the region of interest includes the tooth of interest and the periodontal region of interest. When a portion of the tooth of interest is the target of condition index value prediction, the region of interest includes the portion of the tooth of interest and the periodontal region of the portion. Note that when the entire intraoral three-dimensional data 10 represents one tooth and the periodontal region of that tooth (in other words, the intraoral three-dimensional data 10 includes one tooth), and the entire tooth is the target of condition index value prediction, the calculation unit 2040 may treat the entire intraoral three-dimensional data 10 as one region of interest.

[0055] When the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 includes multiple teeth, for example, the calculation unit 2040 extracts a region of interest for each of all teeth included in the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. Alternatively, for example, the calculation unit 2040 may extract a region of interest only for one or more specific teeth among the multiple teeth included in the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. For example, the calculation unit 2040 extracts a region of interest only for the tooth closest to a specific position (e.g., the center position) of the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 among the multiple teeth included in the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. Alternatively, for example, the calculation unit 2040 extracts a region of interest only for the tooth specified by the user among the multiple teeth included in the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10.

[0056] As described above, the condition index value prediction target may be a part of a tooth. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 may extract multiple regions of interest for one tooth. For example, the calculation unit 2040 detects three-dimensional regions representing the tooth and the periodontal region of the tooth from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10, and divides the detected three-dimensional regions according to a predetermined division rule to extract multiple regions of interest for one tooth.

[0057] Here, various division rules can be adopted. For example, the division rule is "divide into a buccal region and a lingual region." Another example of the division rule is "divide into a mesial portion and a distal portion." Here, the mesial portion refers to the portion of the tooth and its periodontal region that is closer to the midline (the side away from the molars). The distal portion refers to the portion of the tooth and its periodontal region that is farther from the midline (the side closer to the molars).

[0058] The division rule may be a rule for dividing a three-dimensional region of a tooth and the gums surrounding the tooth into three or more (e.g., four or six) regions of interest. For example, the division rule may be a rule such as "divide into a predetermined number of regions in the horizontal direction" or "divide into a predetermined number of regions in the vertical direction." Alternatively, the division rule may be a rule for extracting one or more three-dimensional regions of a predetermined shape (such as a rectangular parallelepiped, cube, sphere, or oval sphere).

[0059] The calculation unit 2040 may use multiple division rules. For example, the calculation unit 2040 uses two division rules: a division rule of "dividing into a buccal region and a lingual region" and a division rule of "dividing into a mesial portion and a distal portion." In this case, the calculation unit 2040 performs both a process of dividing a three-dimensional region representing a tooth and its periodontal region into a buccal side and a lingual side, and a process of dividing into a mesial portion and a distal portion. As a result, four regions of interest are obtained for one tooth.

[0060] The region of interest is extracted, for example, by using a machine learning model trained to extract the region of interest from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. Hereinafter, the model that extracts the region of interest from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 is referred to as a region of interest extraction model. The region of interest extraction model can be any machine learning model (for example, a neural network such as a convolutional neural network (CNN)) that can extract a predetermined three-dimensional region from three-dimensional data.

[0061] The region-of-interest extraction model is configured to output one or more three-dimensional regions to be treated as regions of interest in response to input of the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10, for example.

[0062] The extraction of the region of interest does not necessarily require the use of a model. For example, the calculation unit 2040 may extract the region of interest from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 by analyzing the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 using a predetermined algorithm.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process of calculating the gingival condition index value 20. The calculation unit 2040 extracts one or more regions of interest from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 (S202). Steps S204 to S208 constitute a loop process L1 that is executed for each region of interest. In S204, the calculation unit 2040 determines whether or not the loop process L1 has been executed for all regions of interest. If the loop process L1 has already been executed for all regions of interest, the process in FIG. 6 ends.

[0064] If there are any regions of interest that have not yet been subjected to the loop process L1, the calculation unit 2040 selects one of the regions of interest that have not yet been subjected to the loop process L1. The region of interest selected here is referred to as region of interest i.

[0065] The calculation unit 2040 calculates the gingival condition index value 20 for the region of interest i (S206). Since S208 is the end of the loop process L1, S204 is executed again.

[0066] The process of calculating the gingival condition index value 20 from the region of interest (S206) is performed using, for example, a trained machine learning model. Hereinafter, the model for calculating the gingival condition index value 20 will be referred to as a gingival condition index value calculation model.

[0067] The gingival condition index value calculation model can be any model, such as a logistic regression model, a multiple regression model, a multilayer perceptron, a neural network such as a CNN or an RNN (Recurrent Neural Network), a support vector machine, a random forest modeled as a regression tree, or a hidden Markov model.The gingival condition index value calculation model can also be a model that combines various models to make a comprehensive judgment.

[0068] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a gingival condition index value 20 is calculated using a gingival condition index value calculation model 50. In Fig. 7, the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 is configured to output the gingival condition index value 20 in response to input of the region of interest 12.

[0069] The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 extracted from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 to the gingival condition index calculation model 50. As a result, the calculation unit 2040 obtains a gingival condition index 20 for the region of interest 12 from the gingival condition index calculation model 50.

[0070] Here, when the calculation unit 2040 calculates multiple types of gingival condition index values ​​20, the calculation unit 2040 has a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 for each type of gingival condition index value 20. For example, assume that CAL and PPD are calculated as the gingival condition index values ​​20. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 has a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 trained to calculate CAL and a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 trained to calculate PPD.

[0071] The calculation unit 2040 may also have a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 for each tooth or tooth portion. Here, it is assumed that there are N teeth. When the gingival condition index value 20 is calculated for each tooth, the calculation unit 2040 has N gingival condition index value calculation models 50 for each type of index value calculated as the gingival condition index value 20. For example, when PPD and CAL are calculated as the gingival condition index value 20, the calculation unit 2040 has 2*N gingival condition index value calculation models 50.

[0072] Furthermore, when index values ​​are calculated for M sites for each tooth, the calculation unit 2040 has M*N gingival condition index value calculation models 50 for each type of index value calculated as the gingival condition index value 20. For example, when PPD and CAL are calculated as the gingival condition index value 20, the calculation unit 2040 has 2*M*N gingival condition index value calculation models 50.

[0073] In consideration of left-right symmetry with respect to the oral cavity midline, the number of gingival condition index value calculation models 50 may be half of the above-mentioned number. In this case, the same gingival condition index value calculation models 50 are used for two attention areas 12 that are positioned left-right symmetrically with respect to the oral cavity midline.

[0074] In this way, by preparing a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 for each tooth or each tooth part, there is an advantage that the gingival condition index value 20 can be calculated with higher accuracy compared to the case where a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 common to all teeth or tooth parts is used.

[0075] The gingival condition index value 20 does not necessarily have to be calculated using the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. For example, the calculation unit 2040 may be configured to predict the values ​​of parameters necessary for calculating the gingival condition index value 20 using a machine learning model. Hereinafter, the model that predicts the values ​​of parameters necessary for calculating the gingival condition index value 20 will be referred to as a first prediction model. The types of machine learning models that can be used as the first prediction model are the same as the types of machine learning models that can be used as the gingival condition index value calculation model 50.

[0076] The first prediction model is trained in advance to output a specific parameter value in response to input of the region of interest 12. The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 to the first prediction model and calculates the gingival condition index value 20 using the parameter values ​​obtained from the first prediction model.

[0077] The parameters required to calculate the gingival condition index value 20 vary depending on the type of index value calculated as the gingival condition index value 20. For example, assume that PPD is calculated as the gingival condition index value 20. PPD is the distance between the gingival margin and the pocket bottom. Therefore, in order to calculate PPD, it is necessary to identify the positions of the gingival margin and the pocket bottom.

[0078] Therefore, for example, the calculation unit 2040 has a first prediction model trained to predict the position of the gingival margin for the region of interest 12, and a first prediction model trained to predict the position of the pocket bottom for the region of interest 12. The calculation unit 2040 calculates PPD using these first prediction models.

[0079] 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which PPD is calculated using a first prediction model. First prediction model 170-1 is a first prediction model that predicts the position of the gingival margin. On the other hand, first prediction model 170-2 is a first prediction model that predicts the position of the pocket bottom.

[0080] The calculation unit 2040 obtains the position of the gingival margin by inputting the region of interest 12 to the first prediction model 170-1. The calculation unit 2040 also obtains the position of the pocket bottom by inputting the region of interest 12 to the first prediction model 170-2. The calculation unit 2040 then calculates the difference between the position of the gingival margin obtained from the first prediction model 170-1 and the position of the pocket bottom obtained from the first prediction model 170-2, thereby calculating PPD.

[0081] It is assumed that CAL is calculated as the gingival condition index value 20. CAL is the distance between the CEJ and the pocket bottom. Therefore, in order to calculate CAL, it is necessary to identify the positions of the CEJ and the pocket bottom.

[0082] Therefore, for example, the calculation unit 2040 has a first prediction model 170 trained to predict the position of the CEJ for the region of interest 12, and a first prediction model 170 trained to predict the position of the pocket bottom for the region of interest 12. The calculation unit 2040 uses these first prediction models 170 to calculate CAL.

[0083] 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which CAL is calculated using the first prediction model. The first prediction model 170-3 is a first prediction model that predicts the position of the CEJ. On the other hand, the first prediction model 170-2 is a first prediction model that predicts the position of the pocket bottom.

[0084] The calculation unit 2040 obtains the position of the CEJ by inputting the region of interest 12 to the first prediction model 170-3. The calculation unit 2040 also obtains the position of the pocket bottom by inputting the region of interest 12 to the first prediction model 170-2. The calculation unit 2040 then calculates CAL by calculating the difference between the position of the CEJ obtained from the first prediction model 170-3 and the position of the pocket bottom obtained from the first prediction model 170-2.

[0085] Here, the pocket bottom is hidden by the gums (see FIG. 2). The calculation unit 2040 can predict the position of the pocket bottom hidden by the gums by using the first prediction model 170. Furthermore, the CEJ may be hidden by the gums. The calculation unit 2040 can predict the position of the CEJ by using the first prediction model 170, even when the CEJ is hidden by the gums. Therefore, by using the first prediction model 170, it is possible to easily calculate an index value that requires the position of the part hidden by the gums.

[0086] The calculation unit 2040 has, for example, a first prediction model 170 for each parameter used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20. For example, when PPD and CAL are calculated as the gingival condition index value 20, the calculation unit 2040 has a first prediction model 170 for predicting the position of the gingival margin, a first prediction model 170 for predicting the position of the pocket bottom, and a first prediction model 170 for predicting the position of the CEJ.

[0087] The first prediction model 170 may be prepared for each tooth or each tooth portion. For example, if there are N teeth, the calculation unit 2040 has N first prediction models 170 for each parameter. For example, if PPD and CAL are calculated as the gingival condition index value 20, the calculation unit 2040 has N first prediction models 170 for predicting the position of the gingival margin, N first prediction models 170 for predicting the position of the pocket bottom, and N first prediction models 170 for predicting the position of the CEJ.

[0088] Furthermore, when index values ​​are calculated for M sites for each tooth, the calculation unit 2040 has M*N first prediction models 170 for each parameter. For example, when PPD and CAL are calculated as the gingival condition index value 20, the calculation unit 2040 has N*M first prediction models 170 for predicting the position of the gingival margin, N*M first prediction models 170 for predicting the position of the pocket bottom, and N*M first prediction models 170 for predicting the position of the CEJ.

[0089] In consideration of left-right symmetry with respect to the oral cavity midline, the number of gingival condition index value calculation models 50 may be half of the above-mentioned number. In this case, the same first prediction model 170 is used for two regions of interest 12 that are positioned left-right symmetrically with respect to the oral cavity midline.

[0090] In this way, by preparing a first prediction model 170 for each tooth or each tooth part, there is an advantage that the parameter values ​​can be predicted with higher accuracy compared to the case where a first prediction model 170 common to all teeth or tooth parts is used.

[0091] The data input to the gingival condition index calculation model 50 or the first prediction model 170 may not be the region of interest 12, but may be a feature that can be calculated from the region of interest 12. Hereinafter, the feature that is calculated from the region of interest 12 and is used to calculate the gingival condition index 20 will be referred to as a first feature.

[0092] The first feature amount is, for example, a value representing a predetermined type of feature related to the tooth of interest, or a value representing a predetermined type of feature related to the periodontal region of interest. The tooth features include, for example, the shape of the tooth, the size of the tooth, the color tone of the tooth (change in tooth color intensity depending on position), the smoothness of the tooth, the distance between the tooth and the adjacent tooth (size of the gap), and whether or not the CEJ is exposed in the tooth. Here, the size feature of an object is represented, for example, by the vertical length of the object, the horizontal length of the object, or the thickness of the object. Furthermore, the shape feature of an object is represented, for example, by the ratio of the vertical length to the horizontal length of the object, or the ratio of the width of the top of the object to the width of the bottom of the object.

[0093] Smoothness includes concepts such as the degree of smoothness, the degree of roughness, or the degree of irregularity. Tooth severity can be expressed, for example, by the severity ratio. The severity ratio is expressed, for example, by approximating the tooth surface with an elliptical surface and expressing the area ratio of the region that deviates from the approximate surface within a standard value.

[0094] Characteristics related to the periodontal region include, for example, gingival color, gingival color tone (change in gingival color intensity depending on position), gingival shape, gingival surface smoothness, distance between the gingival surface and the tooth surface (degree of gingival protrusion relative to the tooth), gingival surface area, gingival volume, distance between the gingival-alveolar junction and the gingival margin, gingival papilla shape, gingival papilla surface area, gingival papilla volume, or gingival papilla height.

[0095] Here, the value represented by the first feature may be an absolute value or a relative value to a reference value. The reference value may be obtained from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 or may be defined in advance. When the reference value is obtained from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10, for example, an image of an object representing the reference together with the subject's teeth is captured by an imaging device.

[0096] The first feature amount is calculated, for example, by using a pre-trained machine learning model. Hereinafter, the model used to calculate the first feature amount is referred to as a first feature amount calculation model. The types of models that can be used as first feature amount calculation models are the same as the types of models that can be used as gingival condition index value calculation models.

[0097] 10 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a gingival condition index value 20 is calculated using a first feature amount calculation model and a gingival condition index value calculation model. The first feature amount calculation model 40 is trained in advance to output a first feature amount 100 in response to input of a region of interest 12. The gingival condition index value calculation model 50 is trained in advance to output a gingival condition index value 20 in response to input of the first feature amount 100.

[0098] The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 extracted from the three-dimensional intraoral cavity data 10 to the first feature amount calculation model 40. Furthermore, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the first feature amount 100 output from the first feature amount calculation model 40 to the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. As a result, the calculation unit 2040 obtains the gingival condition index value 20 for the region of interest 12 from the gingival condition index value calculation model 50.

[0099] Here, if the calculation unit 2040 has multiple gingival condition index value calculation models 50, the first feature calculation model 40 may be shared by all of the gingival condition index value calculation models 50, or a first feature calculation model 40 may be prepared for each gingival condition index value calculation model 50.

[0100] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which PPD is calculated using a first feature calculation model and a first prediction model. The first prediction model 170-1 is pre-trained to output the position of the gingival margin in response to input of the first feature 100. The first prediction model 170-2 is pre-trained to output the position of the pocket bottom in response to input of the first feature 100.

[0101] The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 extracted from the three-dimensional intraoral data 10 to the first feature amount calculation model 40. Furthermore, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the first feature amount 100 output from the first feature amount calculation model 40 to each of the first prediction models 170-1 and 170-2. The calculation unit 2040 then calculates the difference between the position of the gingival margin obtained from the first prediction model 170-1 and the position of the pocket bottom obtained from the first prediction model 170-2, thereby calculating PPD.

[0102] Here, if the calculation unit 2040 has multiple first prediction models 170, the first feature calculation model 40 may be shared by all the first prediction models 170, or a first feature calculation model 40 may be prepared for each first prediction model 170.

[0103] The first feature amount calculation model 40 does not have to be used to calculate the first feature amount 100. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 calculates the first feature amount 100 from the region of interest 12 by analyzing the region of interest 12 according to a predetermined algorithm.

[0104] 12 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a first feature calculated without using the first feature calculation model 40 is used by the gingival condition index calculation model 50. The calculation unit 2040 calculates the first feature 100 by analyzing the region of interest 12. The calculation unit 2040 then inputs the calculated first feature 100 to the gingival condition index calculation model 50. As a result, the gingival condition index calculation model 50 obtains the gingival condition index 20.

[0105] 13 is a diagram illustrating a case where a first feature calculated without using the first feature calculation model 40 is used by the first prediction model 170. In the example of FIG. 13, PPD is calculated as the gingival condition index value 20.

[0106] The calculation unit 2040 calculates the first feature amount 100 by analyzing the region of interest 12. Thereafter, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the calculated first feature amount 100 into each of the first prediction model 170-1 and the first prediction model 170-2. Then, the calculation unit 2040 calculates the PPD by calculating the difference between the position of the gingival margin obtained from the first prediction model 170-1 and the position of the pocket bottom obtained from the first prediction model 170-2.

[0107] When calculating the gingival condition index value 20 from the region of interest 12, a three-dimensional region other than the region of interest 12 may also be used. Specifically, the calculation unit 2040 may further use another three-dimensional region (hereinafter referred to as a related region) related to the region of interest 12 among the three-dimensional regions included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10. The related region is, for example, a region close to the region of interest. Another example of the related region is a region including a tooth located symmetrically to the tooth of interest with respect to the oral cavity midline.

[0108] The region adjacent to the region of interest is, for example, a region that includes a tooth adjacent to the target tooth (hereinafter, referred to as an adjacent tooth). The adjacent tooth is, for example, a tooth adjacent to the target tooth. The tooth adjacent to the target tooth is a tooth located on the mesial or distal side of the target tooth. The adjacent tooth may be a tooth located a predetermined number of teeth (for example, two teeth) away from the target tooth.

[0109] The region of interest may include only a portion of the tooth of interest, rather than the entire tooth of interest. In this case, the region of interest may be a region that includes a portion of the tooth of interest that is not included in the region of interest. For example, the region of interest is a region that is located at the same position as the target region, relative to the tooth centerline of the target tooth.

[0110] Figure 14 shows a case where both the region of interest and the related region include parts of the tooth of interest. In Figure 14, the region of interest 12 includes the tooth of interest 13 and its periodontal area. The related region 14 is located symmetrically to the region of interest 12 with respect to the tooth center line 160, and includes the tooth of interest 13 and its periodontal area.

[0111] The size of the related region 14 may be the same as the size of the region of interest 12, or may be larger or smaller than the size of the region of interest 12. When the size of the related region 14 is different from the size of the region of interest 12, for example, the size of the related region 14 is set to a predetermined multiple (e.g., twice) the size of the region of interest 12.

[0112] Here, the length of the region of interest 14 may be set to a predetermined multiple of the size of the region of interest 12 for all axial lengths or for only some axial lengths. In the latter case, for example, the size of the region of interest 14 is set to a predetermined multiple of the size of the region of interest 12 for only the lateral length when the tooth is viewed from the front (the horizontal length in FIG. 14). Then, for the remaining axial lengths, the size of the region of interest 14 and the size of the region of interest 12 are set to be the same.

[0113] The calculation unit 2040 may use two or more related regions 14. For example, the calculation unit 2040 uses, as the related regions 14, the regions of the adjacent teeth that are within a distance of two teeth from the tooth of interest.

[0114] Assume that the region of interest does not include the entire tooth of interest, but only a portion of the tooth of interest. In this case, for example, a region of interest 14 adjacent to the region of interest from the mesial side and a region of interest 14 adjacent to the region of interest from the distal side may be used as the region of interest 14. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a region of interest 12 that includes only a portion of the tooth of interest and two regions of interest 14. In the example of FIG. 15, two regions of interest 14, namely, a region of interest 14-1 and a region of interest 14-2, are used for one region of interest 12. Note that in FIG. 15, the size of the region of interest 14 is set to twice the size of the region of interest 12.

[0115] The associated region 14 is used by the gingival condition index calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170. The gingival condition index 20 is calculated using the gingival condition index calculation model 50. In this case, the gingival condition index calculation model 50 is trained in advance so as to output the gingival condition index 20 in response to input of both the attention region 12 and the associated region 14.

[0116] 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which a gingival condition index value 20 is calculated by a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 to which a region of interest 12 and a related region 14 are input. The calculation unit 2040 inputs both the region of interest 12 and the related region 14 to the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. In response to the input of the region of interest 12 and the related region 14, the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 outputs the gingival condition index value 20.

[0117] Assume that the gingival condition index value 20 is calculated using a first prediction model 170. In this case, the first prediction model 170 is pre-trained to output a prediction value of a specific parameter in response to input of both the region of interest 12 and the region of interest 14.

[0118] 17 illustrates an example of a case in which PPD is calculated using a first prediction model 170 to which a region of interest 12 and a related region 14 are input. The first prediction model 170-1 is trained to output the position of the gingival margin in response to the input of the region of interest 12 and the related region 14. The first prediction model 170-2 is trained to output the position of the pocket bottom in response to the input of the region of interest 12 and the related region 14.

[0119] The calculation unit 2040 inputs both the region of interest 12 and the associated region 14 to the first prediction model 170-1 and the first prediction model 170-2. The first prediction model 170-1 outputs a predicted value of the position of the gingival margin in response to the input of the gingival condition index value 20 and the associated region 14. The first prediction model 170-2 outputs a predicted value of the position of the pocket bottom in response to the input of the gingival condition index value 20 and the associated region 14. The calculation unit 2040 calculates the PPD by calculating the difference between the position of the gingival margin obtained from the first prediction model 170-1 and the position of the pocket bottom obtained from the first prediction model 170-2.

[0120] Instead of the related region 14, a feature calculated from the related region 14 may be input to the gingival condition index calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170. The feature calculated from the related region 14 is called a second feature.

[0121] The second feature amount can be any of the various types of data that can be used as the first feature amount, as described above. The second feature amount can be calculated from the related region 14 using the same method as that for calculating the first feature amount 100 from the attention region 12.

[0122] Here, it is assumed that a machine learning model is used in the process of calculating the second feature amount from the related region 14. Hereinafter, the model that calculates the second feature amount from the related region 14 is referred to as the second feature amount calculation model. In this case, the first feature amount calculation model 40 may be used as the second feature amount calculation model. That is, in this case, data obtained by inputting the related region 14 into the first feature amount calculation model 40 is treated as the second feature amount.

[0123] Using the region of interest 12 as well as the region of interest 14 in the process of calculating the gingival condition index value 20 of the tooth of interest has the effect of enabling the gingival condition index value 20 of the tooth of interest to be calculated (predicted) with higher accuracy. The reason for this will be explained below.

[0124] Periodontitis is more likely to develop locally than uniformly throughout the oral cavity. Therefore, even if a tooth or periodontal region of interest has periodontitis, other teeth or periodontal regions may not have periodontitis. Therefore, by comparing the tooth or periodontal region of interest with other teeth or periodontal regions, it may be possible to compare teeth and their periodontal regions with those that do not have periodontitis. Therefore, the gingival condition index value 20 for the tooth of interest can be calculated with greater accuracy.

[0125] Similarly, even if a portion of the tooth of interest or a portion of the periodontal region of interest has periodontitis, other portions of the tooth of interest or other portions of the periodontal region of interest may not have periodontitis. Therefore, by comparing the portion of the tooth of interest or the portion of the periodontal region of interest with the other portions of the tooth of interest or the other portions of the periodontal region of interest, it may be possible to compare the portions of the tooth of interest and its periodontal region that have periodontitis with the portions that do not have periodontitis. Therefore, the gingival condition index value 20 for the tooth of interest can be calculated with higher accuracy.

[0126] There are various methods for extracting relevant regions from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. For example, the calculation unit 2040 has a machine learning model trained to extract relevant regions from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10. Hereinafter, a model that extracts relevant regions from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 will be referred to as a relevant region extraction model. The relevant region extraction model can be any machine learning model (for example, a neural network such as CNN) that can extract a predetermined three-dimensional region from three-dimensional data.

[0127] For example, the associated region extraction model receives input of the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 and the position of the region of interest. The associated region extraction model is configured to output, from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10, one or more associated regions corresponding to the region of interest at a specified position.

[0128] The extraction of the relevant region does not necessarily require the use of a model. For example, the calculation unit 2040 may extract the relevant region from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 by analyzing the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 using a predetermined algorithm.

[0129] In addition to or instead of the relevant region, various attribute information about the subject may be used in calculating the gingival condition index value 20. The attribute information about the subject includes the subject's race, age, sex, medical history and condition (e.g., diabetes, periodontitis, gingivitis, endodontic lesion, root fracture, cementum detachment, dental caries, subgingival caries, or occlusal trauma), treatment history, smoking history, or chief complaint.

[0130] By using information representing the subject's attributes to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, the gingival condition index value 20 can be calculated (predicted) with higher accuracy, taking the subject's attributes into consideration.

[0131] When the gingival condition index calculation model 50 is used to calculate the gingival condition index 20, the gingival condition index calculation model 50 is configured to further input attribute information of the subject or feature quantities calculated from the attribute information of the subject. The gingival condition index calculation model 50 calculates the gingival condition index 20 by further using the attribute information of the subject or feature quantities calculated from the attribute information of the subject.

[0132] When the first prediction model 170 is used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, the first prediction model 170 is configured to further input attribute information of the subject or feature quantities calculated from the attribute information of the subject. The first prediction model 170 further uses the attribute information of the subject or feature quantities calculated from the attribute information of the subject to calculate a predicted value of a specific parameter.

[0133] The calculation unit 2040 may calculate the gingival condition index value 20 using time-series data of the region of interest 12, the related region 14, or the subject's attribute information. A machine learning model capable of handling time-series data, such as an RNN, may be used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20 using the time-series data. By using the time-series data to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, the gingival condition index value 20 can be calculated (predicted) with higher accuracy, taking into account changes over time in the subject's teeth, periodontal region, attributes, etc.

[0134] <<Calculation method for alveolar bone resorption index value 30>> For example, the calculation unit 2040 extracts a region of interest 12 from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 and calculates an alveolar bone resorption index value 30 using the region of interest 12. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a process for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. The calculation unit 2040 extracts one or more regions of interest 12 from the three-dimensional oral cavity data 10 (S302). Steps S304 to S308 constitute a loop process L2 that is executed for each region of interest 12. In S304, the calculation unit 2040 determines whether the loop process L2 has been executed for all regions of interest 12. If the loop process L2 has already been executed for all regions of interest 12, the process of FIG. 18 ends.

[0135] If there are any regions of interest 12 that have not yet been the target of the loop process L2, the calculation unit 2040 selects one of the regions of interest 12 that have not yet been the target of the loop process L2. The region of interest 12 selected here is referred to as region of interest i.

[0136] The calculation unit 2040 calculates the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 for the region of interest i (S306). Since S308 is the end of the loop processing L2, S304 is executed again.

[0137] The process (S306) of calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 from the region of interest 12 is performed using, for example, a trained machine learning model. Hereinafter, the model for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 will be referred to as an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model.

[0138] The alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model can employ, for example, the various models described above as examples of the gingival condition index value calculation model. Also, the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model can employ a model that combines various models to make a comprehensive judgment.

[0139] Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating a case where an alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated using an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model. In Fig. 19, an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 is trained in advance to output an alveolar bone resorption index value 30 in response to input of an area of ​​interest 12.

[0140] The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 extracted from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 into the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. As a result, the calculation unit 2040 obtains the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 for the region of interest 12 from the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70.

[0141] Here, when the calculation unit 2040 calculates multiple types of alveolar bone resorption index values ​​30, the calculation unit 2040 may have an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 for each type of alveolar bone resorption index value 30. For example, it is assumed that the alveolar bone resorption degree and the alveolar bone resorption rate are calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 has an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 trained to calculate the alveolar bone resorption degree and an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 trained to calculate the alveolar bone resorption rate.

[0142] However, when dealing with two index values ​​that have a relationship in which one can be calculated from the other, such as the alveolar bone resorption degree and the alveolar bone resorption rate, only one of the index values ​​may be calculated using the model. For example, the calculation unit 2040 may calculate the alveolar bone resorption degree using the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70, and then calculate the alveolar bone resorption rate from this alveolar bone resorption degree.

[0143] The calculation unit 2040 may have an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 for each tooth or tooth portion. Here, it is assumed that there are N teeth. When the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated for each tooth, the calculation unit 2040 has N alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70 for each type of index value calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30.

[0144] Furthermore, when index values ​​are calculated for M parts for each tooth, the calculation unit 2040 has M*N alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70 for each type of index value calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30.

[0145] In consideration of left-right symmetry with respect to the oral cavity midline, the number of alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70 may be half of the above-mentioned number. In this case, the same alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70 are used for two regions of interest 12 that are positioned left-right symmetrically with respect to the oral cavity midline.

[0146] In this way, by preparing an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 for each tooth or each tooth region, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be calculated with higher accuracy compared to the case where a common alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 is used for all teeth or tooth regions.

[0147] The alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 does not have to be used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. For example, the calculation unit 2040 may be configured to predict the values ​​of parameters necessary for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 using a machine learning model. Hereinafter, the model that predicts the values ​​of parameters necessary for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 will be referred to as a second prediction model. The types of machine learning models that can be used as the second prediction model are the same as the types of machine learning models that can be used as the first prediction model.

[0148] The second prediction model is trained in advance to output a specific parameter value in response to input of the region of interest 12. The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 into the second prediction model, and calculates the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 using the parameter value obtained from the second prediction model.

[0149] The parameters required to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 vary depending on the type of index value calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. For example, suppose the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. The degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated as B / A, where A is the distance from the CEJ to the root apex and B is the distance from the CEJ to the alveolar crest. Therefore, in order to calculate the degree of alveolar bone resorption, it is necessary to identify the positions of the CEJ, the root apex, and the alveolar crest.

[0150] Therefore, for example, the calculation unit 2040 has a second prediction model trained to predict the position of the CEJ for the region of interest 12, a second prediction model trained to predict the position of the apex for the region of interest 12, and a second prediction model trained to predict the alveolar bone crest for the region of interest 12. The calculation unit 2040 calculates the degree of alveolar bone resorption using these second prediction models.

[0151] 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated using the second prediction model. The second prediction model 180-1 is a second prediction model trained to predict the position of the CEJ in response to input of the region of interest 12. The second prediction model 180-2 is a second prediction model trained to predict the position of the root apex in response to input of the region of interest 12. The second prediction model 180-3 is a second prediction model trained to predict the alveolar bone crest in response to input of the region of interest 12.

[0152] The calculation unit 2040 obtains the position of the CEJ by inputting the region of interest 12 into the second prediction model 180-1. The calculation unit 2040 also obtains the position of the root apex by inputting the region of interest 12 into the second prediction model 180-2. The calculation unit 2040 also obtains the position of the alveolar bone crest by inputting the region of interest 12 into the second prediction model 180-3. The calculation unit 2040 then calculates the degree of alveolar bone resorption using the position of the CEJ obtained from the second prediction model 180-1, the position of the apex obtained from the second prediction model 180-2, and the position of the alveolar bone crest obtained from the second prediction model 180-3.

[0153] The alveolar bone resorption rate can be calculated by multiplying the alveolar bone resorption degree by 100. Therefore, even when calculating the alveolar bone resorption rate as an alveolar bone resorption index value of 30, the second prediction models 180-1 to 180-3 shown in FIG. 20 can be used.

[0154] Here, both the root apex and the alveolar bone crest are hidden by the gums (see FIG. 2). By using the second prediction model 180, the calculation unit 2040 can predict the positions of the root apex and the alveolar bone crest that are hidden by the gums. Furthermore, the CEJ may be hidden by the gums. By using the second prediction model 180, the calculation unit 2040 can predict the position of the CEJ even when the CEJ is hidden by the gums. Therefore, by using the second prediction model 180, it is possible to easily calculate an index value that requires the position of the part hidden by the gums.

[0155] The calculation unit 2040 has, for example, a second prediction model 180 for each parameter used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. For example, when the alveolar bone resorption degree and alveolar bone resorption rate are calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the calculation unit 2040 has a second prediction model 180 that predicts the position of the CEJ, a second prediction model 180 that predicts the position of the tooth apex, and a second prediction model 180 that predicts the position of the alveolar bone crest.

[0156] Here, there are parameters, such as the position of the CEJ, that can be used to calculate both the gingival condition index value 20 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. For such parameters, the calculation unit 2040 may use the values ​​output from the first prediction model 170 to calculate both the gingival condition index value 20 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 30.

[0157] For example, suppose that the calculation unit 2040 calculates CAL as the gingival condition index value 20 and calculates the degree of alveolar bone resorption as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 to a first prediction model 170 that predicts the position of the CEJ, and uses the value output from this first prediction model 170 to calculate both CAL and the degree of alveolar bone resorption. Therefore, in this case, the calculation unit 2040 does not need to include a second prediction model 180 that predicts the position of the CEJ.

[0158] The second prediction model 180 may be prepared for each tooth or each tooth region. For example, if there are N teeth, the calculation unit 2040 has N second prediction models 180 for each parameter. Also, if index values ​​are calculated for M regions for each tooth, the calculation unit 2040 has M*N second prediction models 180 for each parameter.

[0159] In consideration of left-right symmetry with respect to the oral cavity midline, the number of alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70 may be half of the above-mentioned number. In this case, the same second prediction model 180 is used for two regions of interest 12 that are positioned left-right symmetrically with respect to the oral cavity midline.

[0160] In this way, by preparing a second prediction model 180 for each tooth or each tooth part, there is an advantage that the parameter values ​​can be predicted with higher accuracy compared to the case where a second prediction model 180 common to all teeth or tooth parts is used.

[0161] The data input to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180 may not be the region of interest 12, but may be a feature that can be calculated from the region of interest 12. Hereinafter, the feature that is calculated from the region of interest 12 and that is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 will be referred to as a third feature.

[0162] The third feature amount is, for example, a value representing a predetermined type of feature related to the tooth of interest, or a value representing a predetermined type of feature related to the periodontal region of interest, similar to the first feature amount. However, the type of feature used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20 and the type of feature used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 may be different from each other.

[0163] The third feature amount can be calculated from the region of interest 12 using the same method as the method for calculating the first feature amount from the region of interest 12. For example, the third feature amount is calculated using a pre-trained machine learning model. Hereinafter, the model used to calculate the third feature amount will be referred to as a third feature amount calculation model. The types of models that can be used as the third feature amount calculation model are the same as the types of models that can be used as the first feature amount calculation model.

[0164] Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated using a third feature amount calculation model and an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. In Fig. 21, the third feature amount calculation model 60 is trained in advance to output a third feature amount 120 in response to input of a region of interest 12. Moreover, the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 is trained in advance to output an alveolar bone resorption index value 30 in response to input of the third feature amount 120.

[0165] The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 extracted from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 to the third feature amount calculation model 60. Furthermore, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the third feature amount 120 output from the third feature amount calculation model 60 to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. As a result, the calculation unit 2040 obtains the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 for the tooth of interest included in the region of interest 12 from the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70.

[0166] Here, if the calculation unit 2040 has multiple alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70, the third feature calculation model 60 may be shared by all of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation models 70, or a third feature calculation model 60 may be prepared for each alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70.

[0167] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated using the third feature calculation model 60 and the second prediction model 180. The second prediction model 180-1 is pre-trained to output the position of the CEJ in response to input of the third feature 120. The second prediction model 180-2 is pre-trained to output the position of the root apex in response to input of the third feature 120. The second prediction model 180-3 is pre-trained to output the position of the alveolar bone crest in response to input of the third feature 120.

[0168] The calculation unit 2040 inputs the region of interest 12 extracted from the three-dimensional intraoral data 10 to the third feature amount calculation model 60. Furthermore, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the third feature amount 120 output from the third feature amount calculation model 60 to each of the second prediction models 180-1, 180-2, and 180-3. The calculation unit 2040 then calculates the degree of alveolar bone resorption by calculating the difference between the position of the CEJ obtained from the second prediction model 180-1, the position of the root apex obtained from the second prediction model 180-2, and the position of the alveolar bone crest obtained from the second prediction model 180-3.

[0169] Here, if the calculation unit 2040 has multiple second prediction models 180, the third feature calculation model 60 may be shared by all the second prediction models 180, or a third feature calculation model 60 may be prepared for each second prediction model 180.

[0170] The first feature amount 100 may be used as the third feature amount 120. In this case, the same feature amount is used in the process (S206) for calculating the gingival condition index value 20 and the process (S306) for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 does not need to have the third feature amount calculation model 60.

[0171] The calculation of the third feature amount 120 may be performed without using a machine learning model. In this case, the calculation unit 2040 analyzes the region of interest 12 using a predetermined algorithm to calculate, as the third feature amount 120, a value representing a predetermined type of feature related to the tooth of interest or a value representing a predetermined type of feature related to the periodontal region of the tooth of interest.

[0172] 23 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a third feature calculated without using the third feature calculation model 60 is used by the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The calculation unit 2040 calculates the third feature 120 by analyzing the region of interest 12. Thereafter, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the calculated third feature 120 into the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. As a result, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is obtained from the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70.

[0173] 24 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the third feature calculated without using the third feature calculation model 60 is used by the second prediction model 180. In the example of FIG. 24, the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated as the alveolar bone resorption index value 30.

[0174] The calculation unit 2040 calculates the third feature amount 120 by analyzing the region of interest 12. Thereafter, the calculation unit 2040 inputs the calculated third feature amount 120 into each of the second prediction models 180-1, 180-2, and 180-3. The calculation unit 2040 then calculates the degree of alveolar bone resorption based on the position of the CEJ obtained from the second prediction model 180-1, the position of the root apex obtained from the second prediction model 180-2, and the position of the alveolar bone crest obtained from the second prediction model 180-3.

[0175] The aforementioned related region 14 may also be used when calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 from the region of interest 12. Assume that the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated using an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. In this case, the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 is trained in advance to output the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 in response to input of both the region of interest 12 and the related region 14.

[0176] 25 is a diagram illustrating a case in which an alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated by an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 to which an attention region 12 and an associated region 14 are input. The calculation unit 2040 inputs both the attention region 12 and the associated region 14 to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. In response to the input of the attention region 12 and the associated region 14, the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 outputs the alveolar bone resorption index value 30.

[0177] Assume that the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is calculated using the second prediction model 180. In this case, the second prediction model 180 is trained in advance to output a predicted value of a specific parameter in response to input of both the region of interest 12 and the region of interest 14.

[0178] FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the degree of alveolar bone resorption is calculated using the second prediction model 180 to which the region of interest 12 and the related region 14 are input. The second prediction model 180-1 is pre-trained to output the position of the CEJ in response to the input of the region of interest 12 and the related region 14. The second prediction model 180-2 is pre-trained to output the position of the root apex in response to the input of the region of interest 12 and the related region 14. The second prediction model 180-3 is pre-trained to output the position of the alveolar crest in response to the input of the region of interest 12 and the related region 14.

[0179] The calculation unit 2040 inputs both the region of interest 12 and the associated region 14 to each of the second prediction models 180-1, 180-2, and 180-3. The second prediction model 180-1 outputs a predicted value of the position of the CEJ in response to the input of the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the associated region 14. The second prediction model 180-2 outputs a predicted value of the position of the apex in response to the input of the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the associated region 14. The second prediction model 180-3 outputs a predicted value of the position of the alveolar crest in response to the input of the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the associated region 14. The calculation unit 2040 calculates the degree of alveolar bone resorption using the position of the CEJ obtained from the second prediction model 180-1, the position of the apex obtained from the second prediction model 180-2, and the position of the alveolar crest obtained from the second prediction model 180-3.

[0180] Instead of the related region 14, a feature calculated from the related region 14 may be input to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180. The feature calculated from the related region 14 and used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 is called a fourth feature.

[0181] The fourth feature can be any of the various types of data that can be used as the first feature, as described above. The fourth feature can be calculated from the related region 14 using the same method as that for calculating the first feature 100 from the region of interest 12.

[0182] Here, it is assumed that a machine learning model is used in the process of calculating the fourth feature amount from the related region 14. Hereinafter, the model that calculates the fourth feature amount from the related region 14 is referred to as the fourth feature amount calculation model. In this case, the third feature amount calculation model 60 may be used as the fourth feature amount calculation model. That is, in this case, data obtained by inputting the related region 14 into the third feature amount calculation model 60 is treated as the fourth feature amount.

[0183] Using the related region 14 in addition to the region of interest 12 in the process of calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 of the tooth of interest has the effect of enabling the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 of the tooth of interest to be calculated (predicted) with higher accuracy. The reason for this is the same as the reason why using the related region 14 in addition to the region of interest 12 in the process of calculating the gingival condition index value 20 of the tooth of interest can enable the gingival condition index value 20 of the tooth of interest to be calculated with higher accuracy.

[0184] In addition to or instead of the related region, various attribute information about the subject may be used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. The types of attribute information about the subject are as described above. By using information representing the subject's attributes to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be calculated (predicted) with higher accuracy, taking the subject's attributes into consideration.

[0185] When the alveolar bone resorption index calculation model 70 is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the alveolar bone resorption index calculation model 70 is configured to further input attribute information of the subject or feature amounts calculated from the attribute information of the subject. The alveolar bone resorption index calculation model 70 further uses the attribute information of the subject or feature amounts calculated from the attribute information of the subject to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30.

[0186] When the second prediction model 180 is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the second prediction model 180 is configured to further input attribute information of the subject or feature amounts calculated from the attribute information of the subject. The second prediction model 180 further uses the attribute information of the subject or feature amounts calculated from the attribute information of the subject to calculate a predicted value of a specific parameter.

[0187] The calculation unit 2040 may calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 using time-series data of the region of interest 12, the related region 14, or the subject's attribute information. A machine learning model capable of handling time-series data, such as an RNN, may be used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 using the time-series data. By using the time-series data to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be calculated (predicted) with higher accuracy, taking into account changes over time in the subject's teeth, periodontal region, attributes, etc.

[0188] <Result output> The index value calculation device 2000 can output, in any manner, the gingival condition index value 20, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, or both calculated by the calculation unit 2040. Hereinafter, the information output by the index value calculation device 2000 will be referred to as output information.

[0189] The output information indicates the index value calculated by the index value calculation device 2000. Here, when an index value is calculated for each of the multiple teeth included in the intraoral three-dimensional data 10, the output information preferably indicates the index value calculated for that tooth along with information that allows the tooth to be identified. For example, the index value calculation device 2000 assigns an identification number to each of the multiple teeth included in the intraoral three-dimensional data 10 according to a predetermined rule. The index value calculation device 2000 generates output information that indicates the tooth identification number and the index value calculated for that tooth in association with each other.

[0190] When multiple regions of interest are extracted for one tooth, multiple index values ​​are calculated for that tooth. Therefore, in this case, the index value calculation device 2000 assigns an identification number to each part for which an index value is calculated.

[0191] The predetermined rule for assigning identification numbers to teeth or tooth parts can be any rule, for example, any identification number used by those skilled in the art.

[0192] The output information may be output in any manner. For example, the index value calculation device 2000 may store the output information in any storage unit. Alternatively, for example, the index value calculation device 2000 may display the output information on a display device. Alternatively, for example, the index value calculation device 2000 may transmit the output information to another device (e.g., a user terminal).

[0193] <How to use the index values> The gingival condition index value 20 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be used in any manner. For example, the gingival condition index value 20 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be used to determine the presence or absence of a periodontal disease (e.g., gingivitis), to determine the state of a periodontal disease, or to determine whether or not to recommend a visit to a dentist. These various determinations may be performed manually or by a computer. In the latter case, the determination process may be performed by the index value calculation device 2000 or by a device other than the index value calculation device 2000.

[0194] Fig. 27 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of an index value calculation device 2000 that performs a discrimination process using an index value. In Fig. 27, the index value calculation device 2000 further includes a discrimination unit 2060. The discrimination unit 2060 performs a discrimination process using the gingival condition index value 20, the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, or both calculated by the calculation unit 2040. The discrimination process is, for example, any one or more of the above-mentioned processes of determining the presence or absence of a periodontal-related disease, determining the state of a periodontal-related disease, and determining whether or not to recommend visiting a dentist.

[0195] The discrimination process by the discrimination unit 2060 using the gingival condition index value 20 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can be implemented in accordance with, for example, guidelines that are widely recognized and used by those skilled in the art, such as the 2022 Guidelines for Periodontal Treatment by the Japanese Society of Periodontology, the 2018 New Classification of Periodontal Disease by the American Academy of Periodontology / European Federation of Periodontology, the Regional Periodontal Disease Index Classification by the WHO (World Health Organization), or the Periodontal Disease Screening Manual by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

[0196] The index value calculation device 2000 may further have other functions. For example, the index value calculation device 2000 may have a function to calculate a gingival index (GI) from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10 and a function to predict a plaque control state. The index value calculation device 2000 may also have a function to diagnose or predict the dental caries state, dental prosthetic state, and implant tooth state from the oral cavity three-dimensional data 10. Furthermore, the index value calculation device 2000 may further have a function to introduce a dentist or make an appointment with a dentist in response to the determination by the discrimination unit 2060 that a visit to a dentist is recommended.

[0197] <About model training> As described above, one or more models may be used in the index value calculation device 2000. Each model is trained in advance before being used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0198] A device used to train a model is called a training device. The training device may be the index value calculation device 2000 or a device other than the index value calculation device 2000.

[0199] The training device generates a model with initial values ​​set for the trainable parameters (in other words, generates and initializes the model). The training device then trains the model by repeatedly updating the trainable parameters of the model using multiple training data. For example, if the model is a neural network, the trainable parameters are the bias and the weights assigned to each edge.

[0200] Below we explain in more detail how each model is trained.

[0201] <<Training the model used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20>> The gingival condition index value calculation model 50 or the first prediction model 170 can be used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20. When the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 is used, the training device trains the gingival condition index value calculation model 50.

[0202] FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating training of the gingival condition index calculation model 50. The training data 140 includes a region of interest 142 and a gingival condition index 144. Like the region of interest 12, the region of interest 142 is a three-dimensional region that includes the tooth of interest and the periodontal region of the tooth of interest. The gingival condition index 144 is a ground truth gingival condition index to be calculated from the region of interest 142 by the gingival condition index calculation model 50. The gingival condition index 144 is calculated, for example, by performing actual measurements using a probe on the tooth of interest and its periodontal region included in the region of interest 142, or by performing actual measurements using a probe and X-ray images.

[0203] The training device obtains the gingival condition index value 20 by inputting the region of interest 142 into the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The training device calculates a loss based on the gingival condition index value 20 and the gingival condition index value 144, and updates each parameter of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 based on the calculated loss.

[0204] The training device repeatedly updates the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 using multiple pieces of training data 140. In this way, the training device obtains a trained gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The trained gingival condition index value calculation model 50 is then used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0205] As described above, the index value calculation device 2000 may have a gingival condition index value calculation model 50 for each tooth or each tooth part. In this case, the training device performs training using each gingival condition index value calculation model 50 prepared for each tooth or tooth part.

[0206] When the first prediction model 170 is used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, the training device trains the first prediction model 170. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating training of the first prediction model 170. The training data 140 includes a region of interest 142 and predicted parameter values ​​145. The predicted parameter values ​​145 indicate predicted values ​​of the ground truth to be output by the first prediction model 170. For example, assume that the first prediction model 170 is a model that predicts the position of a pocket bottom. In this case, the predicted parameter values ​​145 indicate actual measured values ​​of the position of the pocket bottom in the region of interest 142.

[0207] The training device inputs the region of interest 142 into the first prediction model 170 to obtain parameter prediction values ​​172. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter prediction values ​​172 and 145, and updates each parameter of the first prediction model 170 based on the calculated loss.

[0208] The training device repeatedly updates the first prediction model 170 using multiple pieces of training data 140. In this way, the training device obtains a trained first prediction model 170. The trained first prediction model 170 is then used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0209] As described above, multiple parameters, such as the position of the gingival margin, the position of the pocket bottom, and the position of the CEJ, can be used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20. Therefore, the training device trains a first prediction model 170 for each parameter, which is used to predict the value of that parameter. For example, the first prediction model 170 for predicting the position of the gingival margin is trained using training data 140 in which the actual measured value of the position of the gingival margin is indicated as the parameter predicted value 145. Similarly, the first prediction model 170 for predicting the position of the pocket bottom is trained using training data 140 in which the actual measured value of the position of the pocket bottom is indicated as the parameter predicted value 145.

[0210] Furthermore, the index value calculation device 2000 may have a first prediction model 170 for the same parameters for each tooth or each tooth part. In this case, the training device trains each first prediction model 170 prepared for each tooth or tooth part.

[0211] The first feature amount calculation model 40 may be used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20. In this case, the training device also trains the first feature amount calculation model 40. The training of the first feature amount calculation model 40 may be performed together with the training of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170, or may be performed independently of the training of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170.

[0212] 30 is a diagram illustrating training of the first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The training device obtains the first feature quantity 100 by inputting the region of interest 142 into the first feature quantity calculation model 40. The training device further obtains the gingival condition index value 20 by inputting the first feature quantity 100 output from the first feature quantity calculation model 40 into the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The training device calculates a loss based on the gingival condition index value 20 and the gingival condition index value 144, and updates the parameters of the first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 based on the calculated loss.

[0213] The training device repeatedly updates the first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 using a plurality of training data 140. In this way, the training device obtains a trained first feature quantity calculation model 40 and a trained gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The trained first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the trained gingival condition index value calculation model 50 are then used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0214] The method for jointly training the first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the first prediction model 170 is the same as the method for jointly training the first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. That is, the training device obtains the first feature quantity 100 by inputting the region of interest 142 into the first feature quantity calculation model 40. Furthermore, the training device obtains the parameter predicted value 172 by inputting the first feature quantity 100 output from the first feature quantity calculation model 40 into the first prediction model 170. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter predicted value 172 and the parameter predicted value 145, and updates the parameters of the first feature quantity calculation model 40 and the first prediction model 170 based on the calculated loss.

[0215] When training of the first feature calculation model 40 is performed independently, training data including a region of interest and a first feature of the ground truth is used. The training device calculates a loss based on the first feature 100 obtained by inputting the region of interest indicated in the training data into the first feature calculation model 40 and the first feature of the ground truth indicated in the training data. Then, the training device updates each parameter of the first feature calculation model 40 based on the calculated loss.

[0216] As described above, the first feature calculation model 40 does not have to be used to calculate the first feature 100. In this case, the first feature 100 calculated from the region of interest 142 using a predetermined algorithm is used to train the gingival condition index calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170.

[0217] 31 is a diagram illustrating training of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50, to which a first feature amount 100 calculated by a predetermined algorithm is input. The training device calculates the first feature amount 100 by analyzing a region of interest 142 by a predetermined algorithm. The training device inputs the calculated first feature amount 100 into the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 to obtain the gingival condition index value 20. The training device calculates a loss based on the gingival condition index value 20 and the gingival condition index value 144, and updates each parameter of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 based on the calculated loss.

[0218] Training of the first prediction model 170 can be performed in a similar manner. That is, the training device calculates the first feature 100 by analyzing the region of interest 142 using a predetermined algorithm, and inputs the first feature 100 to the first prediction model 170. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter prediction value 172 and the parameter prediction value 145 output from the first prediction model 170, and updates each parameter of the first prediction model 170 based on the calculated loss.

[0219] When the region of interest 14 is used to calculate the gingival condition index 20, training data 140 including the region of interest is used to train the gingival condition index calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170.

[0220] 32 is a diagram illustrating training of the gingival condition index calculation model 50 using a region of interest. Training data 140 includes a region of interest 142, a region of interest 146, and a gingival condition index 144. The region of interest 146 is a region of interest corresponding to the region of interest 142.

[0221] The training device obtains the gingival condition index value 20 by inputting the region of interest 142 and the region of interest 146 into the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The training device calculates a loss based on the gingival condition index value 20 and the gingival condition index value 144, and updates each parameter of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 based on the calculated loss.

[0222] 33 is a diagram illustrating training of a first prediction model 170 using related regions. Training data 140 includes a region of interest 142, a related region 146, and a parameter prediction value 145. The training device inputs the region of interest 142 and the related region 146 into the first prediction model 170 to obtain the parameter prediction value 172. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter prediction value 172 and the parameter prediction value 145, and updates each parameter of the first prediction model 170 based on the calculated loss.

[0223] A second feature calculated from the related region 14 may be input to the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 or the first prediction model 170. When the second feature is calculated using the second feature calculation model, the training device further trains the second feature calculation model.

[0224] The training of the second feature amount calculation model can be performed in the same way as the training of the first feature amount calculation model 40. For example, in training the gingival condition index value calculation model 50, instead of inputting the associated region 146 to the gingival condition index value calculation model 50, the training device inputs the second feature amount calculated from the associated region 146 by the second feature amount calculation model to the gingival condition index value calculation model 50. The training device calculates a loss based on the gingival condition index value 20 and the gingival condition index value 144 output from the gingival condition index value calculation model 50, and updates the parameters of the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 and the second feature amount calculation model based on the loss.

[0225] Similarly, for example, in training the first prediction model 170, instead of inputting the related region 146 to the first prediction model 170, the training device inputs the second feature calculated from the related region 146 by the second feature calculation model to the first prediction model 170. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter predicted value 172 and the parameter predicted value 145 output from the first prediction model 170, and updates the parameters of the first prediction model 170 and the second feature calculation model based on the loss.

[0226] When independently training the second feature calculation model, the second feature calculation model is trained using training data including related regions and ground truth second features. The training device calculates a loss based on the second features obtained by inputting the related regions indicated in the training data to the second feature calculation model and the ground truth second features indicated in the training data. The training device then updates the parameters of the second feature calculation model based on the calculated loss.

[0227] The calculation of the second feature amount does not necessarily require the use of a second feature amount calculation model. In this case, the second feature amount calculated from the related region 146 using a predetermined algorithm is used to train the gingival condition index value calculation model 50 and the first prediction model 170.

[0228] Attribute information of the subject may be used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20. When attribute information is used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, the training device trains each model using training data 140 that includes the attribute information.

[0229] <<Training the model used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30>> The alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 or the second prediction model 180 is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. When the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 is used, the training device trains the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70.

[0230] 34 is a diagram illustrating training of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. Training data 150 includes a region of interest 152 and an alveolar bone resorption index value 154. Similar to the region of interest 12, the region of interest 152 is a three-dimensional region that includes the tooth of interest and the periodontal region of the tooth of interest. The alveolar bone resorption index value 154 is a ground truth alveolar bone resorption index value to be calculated from the region of interest 152 by the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70.

[0231] The alveolar bone resorption index value 154 is calculated, for example, using an X-ray image of the tooth of interest and its periodontal region included in the region of interest 152. The alveolar bone resorption index value 154 may be a one-dimensional index calculated from one-dimensional data such as distance, a two-dimensional index calculated from two-dimensional data such as the area of ​​resorbed alveolar bone, or a three-dimensional index calculated from three-dimensional data such as the volume of resorbed alveolar bone.

[0232] The training device obtains the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 by inputting the region of interest 152 into the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The training device calculates the loss based on the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 154, and updates each parameter of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 based on the calculated loss.

[0233] The training device repeatedly updates the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 using a plurality of training data 150. In this way, the training device obtains a trained alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The trained alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 is then used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0234] As described above, the index value calculation device 2000 may be provided with an alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 for each tooth or each tooth region. In this case, the training device performs training using each alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 prepared for each tooth or tooth region.

[0235] When the second prediction model 180 is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the training device trains the second prediction model 180. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating training of the second prediction model 180. The training data 150 includes a region of interest 152 and predicted parameter values ​​155. The predicted parameter values ​​155 indicate predicted values ​​of the ground truth to be output by the second prediction model 180. For example, assume that the second prediction model 180 is a model that predicts the position of the tooth apex. In this case, the predicted parameter values ​​155 indicate actual measured values ​​of the position of the tooth apex in the region of interest 152.

[0236] The training device inputs the region of interest 152 into the second prediction model 180 to obtain parameter prediction values ​​182. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter prediction values ​​182 and 155, and updates each parameter of the second prediction model 180 based on the calculated loss.

[0237] The training device repeatedly updates the second prediction model 180 using multiple pieces of training data 150. In this way, the training device obtains a trained second prediction model 180. The trained second prediction model 180 is then used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0238] As described above, multiple parameters, such as the position of the CEJ, the position of the root apex, and the position of the alveolar crest, can be used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. Therefore, the training device trains a second prediction model 180 for each parameter, which is used to predict the value of that parameter. For example, the second prediction model 180 for predicting the position of the CEJ is trained using training data 150 in which the actual measured value of the position of the CEJ is indicated as the parameter predicted value 155. Similarly, the second prediction model 180 for predicting the position of the root apex is trained using training data 150 in which the actual measured value of the position of the root apex is indicated as the parameter predicted value 155.

[0239] Furthermore, the index value calculation device 2000 may have a second prediction model 180 for the same parameters for each tooth or each tooth part. In this case, the training device trains each second prediction model 180 prepared for each tooth or tooth part.

[0240] The third feature amount calculation model 60 may be used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. In this case, the training device also trains the third feature amount calculation model 60. The training of the third feature amount calculation model 60 may be performed together with the training of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180, or may be performed independently of the training of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180.

[0241] 36 is a diagram illustrating training of the third feature amount calculation model 60 and the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The training device obtains the third feature amount 120 by inputting the region of interest 152 into the third feature amount calculation model 60. The training device further obtains the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 by inputting the third feature amount 120 output from the third feature amount calculation model 60 into the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The training device calculates a loss based on the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 154, and updates the parameters of the third feature amount calculation model 60 and the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 based on the calculated loss.

[0242] The training device repeatedly updates the third feature amount calculation model 60 and the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 by using a plurality of training data 150. As a result, the training device obtains a trained third feature amount calculation model 60 and a trained alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. Then, the trained third feature amount calculation model 60 and the trained alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 are used by the index value calculation device 2000.

[0243] The method for jointly training the third feature quantity calculation model 60 and the second prediction model 180 is the same as the method for jointly training the third feature quantity calculation model 60 and the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. That is, the training device obtains the third feature quantity 120 by inputting the region of interest 152 into the third feature quantity calculation model 60. Furthermore, the training device obtains the parameter predicted value 182 by inputting the third feature quantity 120 output from the third feature quantity calculation model 60 into the second prediction model 180. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter predicted value 182 and the parameter predicted value 155, and updates the parameters of the third feature quantity calculation model 60 and the second prediction model 180 based on the calculated loss.

[0244] When the third feature calculation model 60 is trained independently, training data including a region of interest and a ground truth third feature is used. The training device calculates a loss based on the third feature 120 obtained by inputting the region of interest 12 indicated in the training data into the third feature calculation model 60 and the ground truth third feature indicated in the training data. The training device then updates each parameter of the third feature calculation model 60 based on the calculated loss.

[0245] As described above, the third feature amount calculation model 60 does not have to be used to calculate the third feature amount 120. In this case, the third feature amount 120 calculated from the region of interest 152 using a predetermined algorithm is used to train the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180.

[0246] 37 is a diagram illustrating training of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70, to which a third feature amount 120 calculated by a predetermined algorithm is input. The training device calculates the third feature amount 120 by analyzing a region of interest 152 by a predetermined algorithm. The training device inputs the calculated third feature amount 120 into the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70, thereby obtaining the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. The training device calculates a loss based on the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 154, and updates each parameter of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 based on the calculated loss.

[0247] Training of the second prediction model 180 can be performed in a similar manner. That is, the training device calculates the third feature 120 by analyzing the region of interest 152 using a predetermined algorithm, and inputs the third feature 120 to the second prediction model 180. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter prediction value 182 and the parameter prediction value 155 output from the second prediction model 180, and updates the parameters of the second prediction model 180 based on the calculated loss.

[0248] When the relevant region 14 is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, training data 150 including the relevant region is used to train the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180.

[0249] 38 is a diagram illustrating training of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 in which a related region is used. Training data 150 includes a region of interest 152, a related region 156, and an alveolar bone resorption index value 154. The related region 156 is a related region corresponding to the region of interest 152.

[0250] The training device obtains the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 by inputting the region of interest 152 and the related region 156 into the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The training device calculates a loss based on the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 154, and updates each parameter of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 based on the calculated loss.

[0251] 39 is a diagram illustrating training of a second prediction model 180 using related regions. Training data 150 includes a region of interest 152, a related region 156, and a parameter prediction value 155. The training device inputs the region of interest 152 and the related region 156 into the second prediction model 180 to obtain the parameter prediction value 182. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter prediction value 182 and the parameter prediction value 155, and updates each parameter of the second prediction model 180 based on the calculated loss.

[0252] A fourth feature calculated from the related region 14 may be input to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 or the second prediction model 180. When the fourth feature is calculated using the fourth feature calculation model, the training device further trains the fourth feature calculation model.

[0253] The training of the fourth feature amount calculation model can be performed in the same manner as the training of the third feature amount calculation model 60. For example, in training the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70, instead of inputting the associated region 156 to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70, the training device inputs the fourth feature amount calculated from the associated region 156 by the fourth feature amount calculation model to the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70. The training device calculates a loss based on the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 and the alveolar bone resorption index value 154 output from the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70, and updates the parameters of the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the fourth feature amount calculation model based on the loss.

[0254] Similarly, for example, in training the second prediction model 180, instead of inputting the related region 156 to the second prediction model 180, the training device inputs a fourth feature calculated from the related region 156 by the fourth feature calculation model to the second prediction model 180. The training device calculates a loss based on the parameter predicted value 182 and the parameter predicted value 155 output from the second prediction model 180, and updates the parameters of the second prediction model 180 and the fourth feature calculation model based on the loss.

[0255] When independently training the fourth feature calculation model, the fourth feature calculation model is trained using training data including a related region and a ground truth fourth feature. The training device calculates a loss based on the fourth feature obtained by inputting the related region indicated in the training data into the fourth feature calculation model and the ground truth fourth feature indicated in the training data. The training device then updates each parameter of the fourth feature calculation model based on the calculated loss.

[0256] The calculation of the fourth feature amount does not necessarily require the use of the fourth feature amount calculation model. In this case, the alveolar bone resorption index value calculation model 70 and the second prediction model 180 are trained using the fourth feature amount calculated from the related region 156 using a predetermined algorithm.

[0257] Attribute information of the subject may be used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30. When attribute information is used to calculate the alveolar bone resorption index value 30, the training device trains each model using training data 150 that includes the attribute information.

[0258] <<Verification of model accuracy>> The training device may verify the accuracy of the model using verification data having a similar structure to the training data. For example, verification data having a similar structure to the training data 140 is used to verify the model used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20.

[0259] The training device calculates the difference between the gingival condition index value 20 calculated using the verification data and the ground truth gingival condition index value indicated in the verification data, and determines whether the accuracy of the model is sufficiently high based on the difference. For example, the training device determines that the prediction using the model is correct if the ground truth gingival condition index value is included in a predetermined numerical range (e.g., a range of ±10% of the gingival condition index value 20) centered around the gingival condition index value 20 calculated using the model. On the other hand, the training device determines that the prediction using the model is incorrect if the ground truth gingival condition index value is not included in the predetermined numerical range.

[0260] For example, the training device performs a determination for each of multiple validation data sets, and determines that the accuracy of the model is sufficiently high if the percentage of predictions determined to be correct using the model is equal to or greater than a threshold. On the other hand, if the percentage of predictions determined to be correct is less than the threshold, the training device determines that the accuracy of the model is not sufficiently high. If it is determined that the accuracy of the model is not sufficiently high, the training device further trains the model used to calculate the gingival condition index value 20, for example, using additional training data 140. Alternatively, for example, the training device may increase or decrease the number of types of feature values ​​calculated from the region of interest and related regions. Alternatively, for example, the training device may change the type of model.

[0261] Here, verification of the accuracy of the model for calculating the gingival condition index value 20 has been described, but verification of the accuracy of the model for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value 30 can also be carried out in a similar manner.

[0262] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

[0263] In the above examples, the program includes instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media or tangible storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0264] 10 3D oral cavity data 12 Areas of Interest 13 Featured Teeth 14 Related Areas 20 Gingival condition index value 30 Alveolar bone resorption index value 40 First feature calculation model 50 Gingival condition index calculation model 60 Third feature calculation model 70 Alveolar bone resorption index calculation model 100 First feature 120 Third feature 140 training data 142 Areas of Interest 144 Gingival condition index 145 parameter estimates 146 Related Areas 150 training data 152 Areas of Interest 154 Alveolar bone resorption index 155 Parameter Estimates 156 Related Areas 160 Tooth centerline 170 First Prediction Model 172 parameter estimates 180 Second Prediction Model 182 Parameter Estimates 1000 computers 1020 Bus 1040 processor 1060 memory 1080 storage device 1100 Input / Output Interface 1120 Network Interface 2000 Index Value Calculation Device 2020 Acquisition Department 2040 Calculation Department 2060 Discrimination part

Claims

1. An acquisition step of acquiring three-dimensional data of the oral cavity including the teeth of the subject and the area surrounding the teeth; a calculation step of calculating a gingival condition index value, which is an index value related to the gingival condition of the subject, using the oral cavity three-dimensional data; a prediction model trained to output a predicted value of one or more parameters necessary for calculating the gingival condition index value in response to input of a region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest; the region of interest is a three-dimensional region included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data, and includes the whole or a part of the tooth of interest that is the target of calculation of the gingival condition index value and the periodontal region of the tooth of interest; In the calculation step, For each of the one or more parameters, calculate a predicted value of the parameter by inputting the region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest into the prediction model; calculating the gingival condition index value from the predicted values ​​of the one or more parameters calculated using the prediction model, using a calculation formula for calculating the gingival condition index value from the values ​​of the one or more parameters; One of the parameters for which a predicted value is calculated in the calculation step is the position of the pocket bottom.

2. The prediction model is trained to output predicted values ​​of the parameters in response to input of a related region, which is another three-dimensional region included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data and related to the region of interest, or a feature of the related region, and the region of interest or a feature of the region of interest, In the calculation step, extracting the related region corresponding to the region of interest from the oral cavity three-dimensional data; 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein, for each of the one or more parameters, a predicted value of the parameter is calculated by inputting the region of interest or a feature of the region of interest and the extracted related region or a feature of the related region into the prediction model.

3. An acquisition step of acquiring oral cavity three-dimensional data including the subject's teeth and the area surrounding the teeth; a calculation step of calculating an alveolar bone resorption index value, which is an index value related to alveolar bone resorption of the subject, using the oral cavity three-dimensional data; a prediction model trained to output a predicted value of one or more parameters necessary for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value in response to input of a region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest; the region of interest is a three-dimensional region included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data, and includes the whole or a part of the tooth of interest that is the target of calculation of the alveolar bone resorption index value and the periodontal region of the tooth of interest; In the calculation step, For each of the one or more parameters, calculate a predicted value of the parameter by inputting the region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest into the prediction model; A program that calculates the alveolar bone resorption index value from the predicted values ​​of one or more of the parameters calculated using the prediction model, using a calculation formula that calculates the alveolar bone resorption index value from the values ​​of one or more of the parameters.

4. The prediction model is trained to output predicted values ​​of the parameters in response to input of a related region, which is another three-dimensional region included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data and related to the region of interest, or a feature of the related region, and the region of interest or a feature of the region of interest, In the calculation step, extracting the related region corresponding to the region of interest from the oral cavity three-dimensional data; 4. The program according to claim 3, wherein for each of the one or more parameters, a predicted value of the parameter is calculated by inputting the region of interest or a feature of the region of interest and the extracted related region or a feature of the related region into the prediction model.

5. The program according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the related region is a three-dimensional region located symmetrically to the region of interest with respect to the tooth center line of the tooth of interest, or a three-dimensional region located at a position opposite to the region of interest with respect to the oral midline.

6. 4. The program according to claim 1, wherein the feature amount of the region of interest represents a shape of the tooth of interest, a size of the tooth of interest, a color tone of the tooth of interest, a smoothness of the tooth of interest, a distance between the tooth of interest and an adjacent tooth, or presence or absence of exposure of the cement-enamel junction in the tooth of interest, a color of the gums around the tooth of interest, a change in the intensity of the color of the gums depending on a position, a shape of the gums, a surface smoothness of the gums, a distance between the surface of the gums and the surface of the tooth of interest, a surface area of ​​the gums, a volume of the gums, a distance between the gingival-alveolar junction of the gums and the gingival margin, a shape of the gingival papilla of the gums, a surface area of ​​the gingival papilla of the gums, a volume of the gingival papilla of the gums, or a height of the gingival papilla of the gums.

7. an acquisition unit that acquires three-dimensional data of the oral cavity including the teeth of the subject and the area surrounding the teeth; a calculation unit that calculates a gingival condition index value, which is an index value related to the gingival condition of the subject, using the oral cavity three-dimensional data; a prediction model trained to output a predicted value of one or more parameters required for calculating the gingival condition index value in response to input of a region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest, the region of interest is a three-dimensional region included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data, and includes the whole or a part of the tooth of interest that is the target of calculation of the gingival condition index value and the periodontal region of the tooth of interest; The calculation unit For each of the one or more parameters, calculate a predicted value of the parameter by inputting the region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest into the prediction model; calculating the gingival condition index value from the predicted values ​​of the one or more parameters calculated using the prediction model using a calculation formula for calculating the gingival condition index value from the values ​​of the one or more parameters; An index value calculation device, wherein one of the parameters for which a predicted value is calculated by the calculation unit is a position of a pocket bottom.

8. An acquisition unit that acquires oral cavity three-dimensional data including the subject's teeth and the area surrounding the teeth; a calculation unit that calculates an alveolar bone resorption index value, which is an index value related to alveolar bone resorption of the subject, using the oral cavity three-dimensional data; a prediction model that is trained to output a predicted value of one or more parameters necessary for calculating the alveolar bone resorption index value in response to input of a region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest, the region of interest is a three-dimensional region included in the oral cavity three-dimensional data, and includes the whole or a part of the tooth of interest that is the target of calculation of the alveolar bone resorption index value and the periodontal region of the tooth of interest; The calculation unit For each of the one or more parameters, calculate a predicted value of the parameter by inputting the region of interest or a feature amount of the region of interest into the prediction model; An index value calculation device that calculates the alveolar bone resorption index value from the predicted values ​​of one or more of the parameters calculated using the prediction model, using a calculation formula that calculates the alveolar bone resorption index value from the values ​​of one or more of the parameters.

Images