Cervical margin cutting guide system and method of use

Abstract

A dental overlay device includes a tooth wrap and a guide block extending from the tooth wrap. The tooth wrap is configured for contacting one or more teeth to secure the device in a fixed position relative to a tooth to be treated. A passageway of the guide block is configured to receive and contact the overlay device and thereby limit movements of the overlay device in the removal of the predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated. A tooth opening of the guide block is in communication with the passageway and is configured to expose only a buccal surface of the tooth to be treated such that only the buccal surface is in communication with the passageway. The overlay device is fabricated based on a computer-aided design model of the overlay device.

Description

TITLE: CERVICAL MARGIN CUTTING GUIDE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USECROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] The application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 573,280 filed 4 / 2 / 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and processes for preparing a tooth for a tooth restoration, and in particular for preparing a predetermined cervical margin of a tooth to be treated in conjunction with preparing a tooth to receive a tooth restoration.BACKGROUND

[0003] Complete, intact teeth that are cosmetically desirable, wear evenly, and provide a balanced bite are the objectives of patients. Over time, however, problems arise in teeth due to accidents, deterioration from wear and tear, decay due to any of poor oral hygiene, insufficient oral care practices, consumption of certain foods such as sweets, use of tobacco, disease, medications, certain congenital conditions, and environmental effects, tooth movement, etc. In some instances, teeth simply never achieve a cosmetic appearance desired by a patient. To this end, dental practitioners and their patients have relied on a variety of methodologies to repair these deformities and weaknesses of the teeth.

[0004] The repair of a tooth often requires preparation and modification of the exterior shape and size of a tooth to be able to receive various prostheses or restorations such as crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges, and veneers. Also, to prepare an appropriate prosthesis or restoration for a tooth to be treated, generally one or more intraoral scans, impressions, or scans of such impressions of the original unmodified tooth and, often, subsequently the modified tooth must be conducted.

[0005] Systems and processes have been developed by Viax Dental Technologies LLC for use in preparing a surface of a tooth to be treated to receive a restoration having a surface corresponding to the prepared surface of the tooth. Such systems, processes, and associated devices are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2010 / 0192375 Al, now abandoned; U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2010 / 0196842 Al, now U.S. Patent No. 8,640,338; U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2014 / 0248577 Al, now U.S. Patent No. 11,033,356; U.S. PatentAppl. Publ. No. 2018 / 0263726 Al (“the ’726 Publication”), now U.S. Patent No. 11,007,035, and U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2022 / 0071736 Al (“the ’736 Publication”), the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. These systems and processes have enabled the placement of restorations onto prepared teeth during the same visit that the teeth have been prepared and thus obviated the need for temporary prostheses previously needed as placeholders in the mouth of the patient while restorations were being prepared following the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated.

[0006] In some patients, the cervical margin of teeth to be prepared protrudes outwardly, e.g., beyond a gum surface of the patient, and requires removal to avoid having an overly protruding and aesthetically undesirable restoration placement. Due to the curvature of the cervical margin, dental preparation guides that limit the movement of dental burs to two- dimensional translation are unable to remove tooth structure in the cervical margin without the use of an unreasonable number of incrementally modified preparation guides that collectively would remove material form the cervical margin. Systems and processes disclosed in the ’736 Publication provide a manner in which to limit movements of a dental handpiece by a dental practitioner to movements in directions parallel to a longitudinal axis of a dental cutting tool, e.g., a dental bur, and along a curvature of a cervical margin.

[0007] However, even more precise systems and processes are needed to remove tooth structure from a cervical margin of a tooth to more efficiently and reliably treat the teeth of patients in preparation for receiving restorations and other prostheses.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a dental overlay device may be configured for limiting the operation of a dental instrument to a removal of a predetermined portion of a structure of a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient. The dental overlay device may include a body having a length, a width, and a thickness. The body may further include a tooth wrap and a guide block. The tooth wrap may be configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to secure the body in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated. The guide block may extend from the tooth wrap. The guide block may include an upper surface, one or more side surfaces, a passageway, and a tooth opening. The one or more side surfaces may extend from the upper surface. The passageway may extend from the upper surface and may be configured for receiving and forcontacting the dental instrument and thereby limiting movements of the dental instrument in the removal of the predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated. The tooth opening may be in communication with the passageway. The tooth opening may be configured for exposing only a buccal surface of the tooth to be treated such that only the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated is in communication with the passageway when the tooth wrap of the dental overlay device is fully seated on the one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to which the tooth wrap is configured for contacting to secure the body in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated.

[0009] In some arrangements according to the foregoing aspect, the guide block may extend from only a buccal side of the tooth wrap.

[0010] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the tooth opening is configured to expose a cervical margin of the tooth to be treated when the tooth wrap of the dental overlay device is fully seated on the one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to which the tooth wrap is configured for contacting to secure the body in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated. In some such arrangements, a portion of the guide block may an entirety of a buccal surface of the tooth to be treated except for a portion of the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated exposed by the tooth opening.

[0011] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the passageway may include a slot. In some such arrangements, within a cross-section of the passageway, the slot may be wider than a remainder of the passageway.

[0012] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, a central axis along the cross-section of the passageway may align with a cervical margin of the tooth to be treated.

[0013] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the guide block may include an entry way that may extend through one of the one or more side surfaces and into the passageway. In such arrangements, the entryway may define a first plane and the tooth opening may define a second plane transverse, e.g., orthogonal, to the first plane.

[0014] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the dental overlay device may further include an additional guide block that may extend from the tooth wrap. The additional guide wrap may include an upper surface, one or more side surfaces extending from the upper surface, a passageway extending from the uppersurface, and a tooth opening. The passageway may be configured for receiving and for contacting the dental instrument and thereby limiting movements of the dental instrument in the removal of the predetermined portion of the structure of an additional tooth to be treated. The tooth opening may be in communication with the passageway. The tooth opening may be configured for receipt of at least a portion of the additional tooth to be treated.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a system of dental overlay devices may include the dental overlay device according to any of the arrangements of the dental overlay device of the foregoing aspect and a second overlay device. The second dental overlay device may be configured for limiting the operation of the dental instrument to a removal of an additional predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient. The second overlay device may include a body having a length, a width, and a thickness. The body may further include a tooth wrap and a guide block. The tooth wrap may be configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to secure the body of the second dental overlay device in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated. The guide block may extend from the tooth wrap of the second dental overlay device. The guide block of the second dental overlay device may include an upper surface, one or more side surfaces extending from the upper surface of the second dental overlay device, a passageway extending from the upper surface of the second dental overlay device, and a tooth opening in communication with the passageway of the second dental overlay device. The passageway of the second dental overlay device may be configured for receiving and for contacting the dental instrument and thereby limiting movements of the dental instrument in the removal of the additional predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated. The tooth opening may be configured for exposing only the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated such that only the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated is in communication with the passageway of the second dental overlay device. The passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices may be configured such that after insertion and full travel of the dental instrument within each of the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices, the removal of the tooth structure removed from the tooth to be treated by the dental instrument leaves a continuous groove in the tooth to be treated in the shape of an arc. In some such arrangements, the arc may be U-shaped.

[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a dental system may be configured for removing a predetermined portion of a cervical margin of a tooth to betreated. The dental system may include a dental instrument and a dental overlay device. The dental instrument may include a base and a cutting tool. The cutting tool may extend from the base and may include a tip. The dental overlay device may include a tooth wrap and a guide block. The tooth wrap may be configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of a patient to secure the dental overlay device in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated. The guide block may extend from the tooth wrap and may include a passageway. The dental instrument may be receivable in and may be movable along the passageway. A contact section of the passageway may be configured to conform to a shape of a corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument such that the tip of the cutting tool may remove at least a portion of a structure from the tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is received in and moved along the passageway.

[0017] In some arrangements in accordance with the foregoing aspect, the dental overlay device may be configured to limit movements of the dental instrument such that the cutting tool may remove only a predetermined portion of the structure from the tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is activated and moved along an entirety of the passageway.

[0018] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the cutting tool may be dental bur. In some arrangements, the dental bur may be a diamond bur. In some arrangements, the dental bur may be tapered. In some arrangements, the dental bur may have a flat or substantially flat end, a rounded or substantially rounded end, or a pointed or substantially pointed end.

[0019] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the guide block may further include an entry way in communication with the passageway. In such arrangements, the dental instrument may be receivable into the passageway via the entryway.

[0020] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the base may be a dental handpiece and the cutting tool includes an elongated shaft. In some arrangements, the tip of the cutting tool may be an end of the elongated shaft. In some arrangements, the contact section of the passageway configured to conform to the shape of the corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument may be further configured such that the tip of the cutting tool removes tooth structure from the tooth to be treated without a side of the elongated shaft contacting the tooth to be treated.

[0021] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the contact section of the passageway may contact the cutting tool to fix the orientation of the elongated shaft of the cutting tool such that a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft passes through the tooth to be treated. In some arrangements, the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft may be orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the tooth to be treated. In some arrangements, the dental handpiece may include a flange. In such arrangements, the passageway may include a slot region and a shaft region narrower than the slot region. In some arrangements, the flange and the slot region may be configured such that the flange slides along the slot region when the dental overlay device is received within the guide block.

[0022] In some arrangements, the dental system may further include a dental cutting tool calibration device. In such arrangements, the dental cutting tool calibration device may include an upper contact surface, a lower contact surface, and a channel attaching the upper contact surface to the lower contact surface. The cutting tool may be insertable into the channel of the dental cutting tool calibration device. The lower surface may be configured to contact the tip of the cutting tool to insert the elongated shaft into the dental handpiece such that a distance between the flange of the dental handpiece and the tip of the dental instrument is the same as the distance between the upper and the lower contact surfaces of the of the dental cutting tool calibration device.

[0023] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the dental system may further include an additional guide block. The additional guide block may extend from the tooth wrap and may include a passageway. In such arrangements, the dental instrument may be receivable in and may be movable along the passageway of the additional guide block. A contact section of the passageway of the additional guide block may be configured to conform to a shape of a corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument such that the tip of the cutting tool removes at least a portion of a structure from an additional tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is received in and moved along the passageway of the additional guide block.

[0024] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the dental system may further include a second dental overlay device. The second dental overlay device may include a tooth wrap and a guide block. The tooth wrap may be configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to securethe second dental overlay device in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated. The guide block may extend from the tooth wrap of the second dental overlay device and may include a passageway. The dental instrument may be receivable in and may be movable along the passageway of the second dental overlay device. A contact section of the passageway of the second dental overlay device may be configured to conform to a shape of a corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument such that the tip of the cutting tool removes at least an additional portion of the structure from the tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is received in and moved along the passageway of the second dental overlay device. In such arrangements, the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices may be configured such that after insertion and full travel of the dental instrument within each of the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices, the removal of the tooth structure removed from the tooth to be treated by the dental instrument may leave a continuous groove in the tooth to be treated in the shape of an arc.

[0025] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a working tooth in the mouth of a patient may be treated by a process. In this process, a first surface of a dental guide device may be secured onto one or more teeth of the patient. A dental instrument may be moved along a track within the dental guide device such that a tip of a shaft of the cutting tool of the dental instrument may remove a first portion of an enamel from the tooth to be treated.

[0026] In some arrangements in accordance with the foregoing aspect, the dental instrument may be received through an opening of the dental guide device such that a flange of the dental instrument may be received into the track of the dental guide device. In such arrangements, moving the dental instrument may slide the flange along the track. The shaft of the cutting tool may be orthogonal to the flange such that a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the cutting tool may pass through the tooth to be treated during the moving of the dental instrument.

[0027] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, a first surface of an additional dental guide device may be secured onto the one or more teeth of the patient. The dental instrument along a track within the additional dental guide device such that the tip of the shaft of the dental cutting tool of the dental instrument removes a second portion of enamel from the tooth to be treated. In some arrangements, the first and the second portions of the enamel removed from the tooth to be treated may leave a continuous groove in the tooth to be treated in the shape of an arc.

[0028] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the removal of the first portion of the enamel may be a portion of a cervical margin of the tooth to be treated.

[0029] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the cutting tool may be inserted into a dental tool calibration device such that the tip of the cutting tool extending from a handpiece of the dental instrument contacts a lower surface of the dental tool calibration device. In some such arrangements, the lower surface of the dental tool calibration device may be pressed against the tip of the cutting tool to insert the cutting tool deeper into the handpiece until an upper surface of the dental tool calibration device opposite the lower surface abuts a flange of the handpiece. In this manner, a depth of the tip of the cutting tool from the flange of the handpiece may be set.

[0030] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, dental instrumentation for use in limiting the movement of a cutting tool in the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient may be prepared by a process. In this process, first end depth plane data corresponding to a first end depth plane associated with a first virtual tooth at a predetermined end depth distance, in a lingual direction, from a first gum surface plane associated with the first virtual tooth and passing through a buccal-most region of a virtual gum surface corresponding to a gum surface of the patient may be set, via one or more computer processors. First virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a first virtual curved pathway associated with the first virtual tooth and extending in a buccal direction from the end depth plane for a predetermined pathway distance may be set, via the one or more computer processors. A first passageway Boolean operation may be performed, via the one or more computer processors, between first virtual solid guide block data corresponding to a first virtual solid guide block and first virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a first portion of the first virtual curved pathway to form first virtual final guide block data corresponding to a first virtual final guide block with a first passageway, in which the first passageway may be an inverse of the first portion of the first virtual curved pathway. First final instrument configuration data, which may include the first virtual final guide block data and which corresponds to or forms part of a first final instrument configuration, may be exported, via the one or more computer processors, to a data storage file configured for use with manufacturing devices. In some such arrangements, the manufacturing devices may be either one of or both computer-aided manufacturing devices and additive manufacturing devices.

[0031] In some arrangements in accordance with the foregoing aspect, a tooth wrap Boolean operation may be performed, via the one or more computer processors between virtual tooth wrap data corresponding to a virtual tooth wrap and the first virtual final guide block data. In some such arrangements, the first final instrument configuration data may further include the virtual tooth wrap data.

[0032] In some other arrangements in accordance with the foregoing aspect, a tooth wrap Boolean operation may be performed, via the one or more computer processors, between virtual tooth wrap data corresponding to a virtual tooth wrap and the first virtual solid guide block data before performing the first passageway Boolean operation. In some such arrangements, the first final instrument configuration data may further include the virtual tooth wrap data.

[0033] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the first virtual solid guide block may have a predetermined size and form.

[0034] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, a second passageway Boolean operation may be performed, via the one or more computer processors, between second virtual solid guide block data corresponding to a second virtual solid guide block and second virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a second portion of the virtual curved pathway to form second virtual final guide block data corresponding to a second virtual final guide block with a second passageway, in which the second passageway may bee an inverse of the second portion of the virtual curved pathway. Second final instrument configuration data, which may include the second virtual final guide block data and which corresponds to a second final instrument configuration, may be exported, via the one or more computer processors, to a data storage file configured for use with the manufacturing devices.

[0035] In some such arrangements of the foregoing aspect in which a second passageway Boolean operation is performed, an additional tooth wrap Boolean operation may be performed, via the one or more computer processors, between additional virtual tooth wrap data corresponding to an additional virtual tooth wrap and the second virtual final guide block data. In some such arrangements, the second final instrument configuration data may further include the additional virtual tooth wrap data.

[0036] In some other such arrangements of the foregoing aspect in which a second passageway Boolean operation is performed, an additional tooth wrap Boolean operation maybe performed, via the one or more computer processors, between additional virtual tooth wrap data corresponding to an additional virtual tooth wrap and the first virtual solid guide block data before performing the first passageway Boolean operation. In some such arrangements, the second final instrument configuration data may further include the additional virtual tooth wrap data.

[0037] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, the predetermined end depth distance may be in a range from about 250 pm to about 400 pm. In some such arrangements, the predetermined end depth distance may be in a range from 300 pm to 350 pm.

[0038] In some arrangements in accordance with any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect, gum surface data corresponding to the virtual gum surface may be imported, e.g., into a working computer memory of a local or accessible remote computer system. In such arrangements, the gum surface data may be obtained via an intraoral scan of a dentition of the patient or a scan of an impression of the dentition of the patient. In some such arrangements, the scan may be taken using an intraoral scanner as known to those skilled in the art.

[0039] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, dental instrumentation for use in limiting the movement of a cutting tool in the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient may be prepared by the process according to any of the arrangements of the foregoing aspect.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] A more complete appreciation of the subject matter of the present disclosure and the various advantages thereof may be realized by reference to the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a computer-aided design (CAD) model of a dentition in which a virtual tooth extends beyond a buccal-most portion of a virtual gum surface aligned with the virtual tooth as known to those skilled in the art;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a dental instrumentation system for a cervical margin preparation in accordance with an embodiment;

[0043] FIGS. 3 A and 3B are perspective views of corresponding dental overlay devices of the dental instrumentation system of FIG. 2 in accordance with further embodiments;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a modified CAD model of the CAD model of the dentition of FIG. 1, showing a removal of virtual tooth structure from various virtual teeth via a virtual cervical margin preparation in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the modified CAD model of FIG. 4, particularly showing the lack of virtual tooth structure of a virtual tooth extending beyond a buccal-most portion of a virtual gum surface aligned with the virtual tooth in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0046] FIGS. 6A and 6B are side and front elevation views, respectively, of a modified CAD model of the modified CAD model of FIG. 4, particularly showing a virtual curved pathway overlaid onto a virtual tooth of the modified CAD model of FIG. 4, in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0047] FIGS. 7A and 7B are front elevation views of virtual dental overlay devices following a virtual cervical margin preparation in accordance with further embodiments;

[0048] FIGS. 8 A and 8B are perspective views of the virtual dental overlay devices shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively;

[0049] FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram for a process for preparing dental instrumentation for use in limiting the movement of a cutting tool in the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient;

[0050] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a calibration jig for a dental cutting tool in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0051] FIGS. 11A and 1 IB are perspective views of the calibration jig of FIG. 10 and portions of a dental handpiece and cutting tool assembly before and after insertion and calibration of a cutting tool of the dental handpiece and cutting tool assembly, respectively, in accordance with a further embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] As used herein, where the term “virtual” prefaces a feature, unless indicated otherwise, the feature with the term “virtual” refers to an object in a computer-aided design (CAD) model, but it is to be understood that such modeled object, i.e., the term preceded by the term “virtual,” corresponds to a physical feature. For example, the term “virtual gum surface” corresponds to a physical gum surface of a patient.

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 1, virtual tooth model 10, here a computer-aided design (CAD) model, shows a portion of virtual dentition 11 of a patient in which virtual cervical regions 12A-12C of virtual teeth 13A-13F of the virtual dentition extend beyond virtual buccal- most regions 14A-14F of virtual gum surface 15. As explained previously herein, such a configuration is undesirable.

[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, in accordance with the present disclosure, dental instrumentation system 100 prepares a set of teeth of a patient’s dentition by removing predetermined tooth structure at a cervical margin or cervical margins, respectively, of one or more teeth of the patient, as demonstrated by virtual modified tooth model 150 created by virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F formed into virtual modified teeth 160A-160F.

[0055] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B, dental instrumentation system 100 includes dental tool assembly 101 and dental overlay devices 102A, 102B into which the dental tool assembly may be inserted as shown in FIG. 2. Dental tool assembly 101 includes dental handpiece 103 as known to those skilled in the art and dental cutting tool 104. Cutting tool104 may be a dental bur, and in particular a dental bur as shown in FIG. 2 with elongated shaft105 insertable into dental handpiece 103 for removable attachment to the dental handpiece and head 106 having a “diamond” shape that has a substantially flat but roughened tip and a rounded edge around a circumference of the tip of the bur. Flange 107 of dental handpiece 103 extending outwardly at an end of the dental handpiece is received through and is removable from entryways 108A, 108B of dental overlay devices 102A, 102B and is further slidable within each of the dental overlay devices along slots 109 A, 109B, 110A-110C extending from the respective entryways in the same manner that the guide plate of the cutting tool disclosed in the ’726 Publication is received through and is removable from the guide entry slots of the guide devices and is further slidable within each of the guide devices.

[0056] Overlay devices 102A, 102B are customized for individual patients and include tooth wraps 111 A, 11 IB with patient-specific inner surfaces conforming to coronal surfaces of any one or any combination of the teeth of the patient, including in some arrangements the tooth to be treated. Preferably, the patient- specific inner surfaces of overlay devices 102A, 102B at least conform to all of the teeth of the dentition of the patient along which the tooth to be treated lies. Tooth wraps 111 A, 11 IB may be configured and fabricated in a same or similar manner to the tooth wrap described in the ’726 Publication.

[0057] Overlay devices 102A, 102B include guide blocks 112A-112C, 113A-113C each extending in a buccal direction from a buccal side of respective predetermined tooth forms of tooth wraps 111A, 11 IB. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, guide blocks 112A-112C, 113A- 113C extend in generally apical and coronal directions relative to the tooth forms of tooth wraps 111 A, 11 IB to which the guide blocks are attached. Guide blocks 112A-112C, 113A-113C include respective passageways 114A, 114B, 115A-115C that include slots 109A, 109B, 110A- 110C and likewise extend from respective entryways 108A, 108B of respective guide blocks 112A-112C, 113A-113C of overlay devices 102A, 102B. Guide blocks 112A-112C, 113A- 113C further include respective tooth openings 116A, 116B, 117A, 117B (two openings not being shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively) extending through respective portions of bottom sides 118A, 118B, 119A, 119B of the guide blocks where the guide blocks intersect with their respective tooth wraps 111A, 11 IB such that the tooth openings and slots 109A, 109B, 110A-110C are generally on opposing sides of their respective guide blocks and overlie the tooth to be treated when the overlay devices are placed onto the teeth of the patient. In this manner, when overlay devices 102A, 102B are placed on the teeth of a patient, tooth openings 116A, 116B, 117A, 117B expose the teeth that extend through the tooth openings to dental cutting tool 104 of dental tool assembly 101 when the dental tool assembly is inserted into a respective one of the overlay devices.

[0058] As best shown in FIG. 3A, passageways 114A-114C, including slots 109 A- 109C, each have a slightly curved section adjacent to entryway 108A and a significantly curved section spaced from the entryway and adjacent to the slightly (or less) curved section of passageways 114A-114C in which the curvature is counterclockwise. As best shown in FIG. 3B, passageways 115A-115C, including slots 110A-110C, each have a slightly curved section adjacent to entryway 108B and a significantly curved section spaced from the entryway and adjacent to the slightly (or less) curved section of passageways 115A-115C in which the curvature is clockwise. In some modified arrangements, the slightly curved sections of passageways 114A-114C, 115A-115C may be straight sections. As in the example pair of overlay devices 102A, 102B shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, passageways 114A, 114B may generally be in the form of a reverse “J” whereas passageways 115A, 115B, 115C may generally be in the form of a “J.” In particular arrangements, some or all of tooth openings 116A, 116B, 117A, 117B expose only buccal surfaces of respective teeth to be treated suchthat only the buccal surfaces are in communication with respective passageways 114A-114C, 115A-115C.

[0059] With further reference to FIGS. 2, 3 A, 3B, when overlay devices 102A, 102B are placed onto teeth of a patient, dental tool assembly 101 is inserted into either of entryways 108 A, 108B of overlay devices 102A, 102B, and flange 107 of dental handpiece 103 is slid along an entirety of a respective one of slots 109A, 109B, 110A-110C, cutting tool 104 of dental tool assembly 101 is oriented such that a longitudinal axis defined by elongated shaft 105 of the cutting tool is oriented to pass through respective tooth opening 116A, 116B, 117A, 117B. In this manner, tip 120 of head 106 of cutting tool 104 removes a predetermined portion of tooth structure of a tooth to be treated while dental handpiece 103 is slid along slot 109 A, 109B, 110A-110C of dental overlay device 102A, 102B into which the cutting tool is received. When dental tool assembly 101 is sufficiently inserted into overlay device 102A to contact a tooth, cutting tool 104 when in (e.g., pneumatic) operation removes a first portion of an arc (e.g., in the form of partial groove 162A in virtual modified tooth model 150’ of FIG. 7A that eventually becomes virtual tooth model 150), and when dental tool assembly 101 is inserted into overlay device 102B, cutting tool 104 removes a second portion of an arc (e.g., in the form of partial groove 162B in virtual modified tooth model 150” of FIG. 7B that eventually becomes virtual tooth model 150) in which a combination of the first and the second portions of the arc define an arc (e.g., in the form of virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F shown in virtual modified model 150 of FIG. 4) constituting the entirety of the predetermined tooth structure to be removed from the cervical margin of a tooth to be treated.

[0060] In some arrangements, only a single overlay device may be used. In some arrangements, one or both overlay devices may include only a single guide block or a greater number of guide blocks than in the example described previously herein with respect to FIGS. 2-4.

[0061] Dental overlay devices 102A, 102B preferably may be made of plastics such as but not limited to VisiJet M2R-TN (Dental), VisiJet M3 Crystal (MJP), VisiJet M3 Dentcast (MJP), VisiJet M3 Pearlstone (MJP), VisiJet M3 Stoneplast (MJP), VisiJet SL e-Stone (SLA), NextDent Ortho IBT, NextDent Ortho Clear, and NextDent Model Ortho, all by 3D Systems, Inc. Dental overlay devices 102A, 102B may be fabricated via a three-dimensional (3D) printing process in which, in some arrangements, the entirety of the dental overlay devices may be fabricated via 3D printing. In some alternative arrangements, dental overlay devices 102A,102B may be fabricated via a subtractive manufacturing process such as by using a computer- aided manufacturing (CAM) machine to remove material from a block of material, e.g., a computer numerically controlled (CNC) mill.

[0062] Referring now to FIGS. 4-8B, in preparing dental overlay devices 102A, 102B, virtual dental overlay devices 172A, 172B may be prepared via CAD modeling. In the example shown, virtual gum surface planes 173 are placed against each of virtual buccal-most regions 14A-14F of virtual gum surface 15 of virtual tooth model 10. As with the virtual gum surface plane 173 shown in FIG. 5, the virtual gum surface planes may be generated to extend in a vertical direction within the CAD model and to be tangential to virtual buccal-most regions 14A-14F of virtual gum surface 15. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F may be formed into virtual modified teeth 160A-160F at respective desired depths either one of or both set at a distance from virtual gum surface planes 173 and set at a distance within the virtual teeth to be treated. Preferably, the desired depths of virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F are set such that virtual buccal-most regions of virtual modified teeth 160A-160F are virtually lingual relative to respective virtual buccal-most regions 14A- 14F of virtual gum surface 15.

[0063] Cutting tool data corresponding to a configuration of dental cutting tool 104, a configuration of head 106, or a configuration of at least a tip of head 106 may be stored in a computer data file for use in creating virtual modified tooth model 150. In this manner, respective sizes and shapes of virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F formed into virtual modified teeth 160A-160F within virtual modified tooth model 150 may be set, e.g., automatically or via prompts to a user of the CAD modeling software, in response to or based on the setting of the desired depths of virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F.

[0064] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 6 A, and 6B, an end depth plane (not shown) is set parallel to virtual gum surface plane 173 for each virtual modified tooth 160A- 160F within virtual modified tooth model 10. Virtual bottom (or back) surfaces 174 are generated as portions of the respective end depth planes for each virtual modified tooth 160A- 160F. As best shown by FIG. 6B, virtual bottom surfaces 174 have a shape that tracks respective outer profiles of virtual coronas of virtual modified teeth 160A-160F. Widths of virtual bottom surfaces are set to be greater than widths of virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F. Lengths of virtual bottom surfaces 174 are set to be greater than the respective outer profiles of the virtual coronas of virtual modified teeth 160A-160F to provide virtualclearance corresponding to clearance within passageways 114A, 114B, 115A-115C to be provided for entry of dental tool assembly 101 into entryways 108A, 108B of overlay devices 102A, 102B. Virtual bottom surfaces 174 are then extruded to form virtual curved pathways 175, which are preferably virtual solid structures within the CAD model. As best shown in FIG. 6B, virtual curved pathways 175 may be in the form of an arc, which may be substantially in a U-shape, as with at least some of virtual cervical margin grooves 161A-161F.

[0065] With reference to FIGS. 6A-7B, respective virtual inverse curved slot pathways (not shown), which are solid within the CAD model, are respectively added along and adjacent to the virtual curved pathways 175, and respective virtual outer curved pathways (not shown) are respectively added along and adjacent to the virtual inverse curved slot pathways. In this example, the virtual inverse curved slot pathways and their corresponding virtual outer curved pathways track the same curvature as the virtual curved pathways 175. In this manner, corresponding virtual curved pathways 175, virtual inverse curved slot pathways, and virtual upper curved pathways form respective continuous virtual inverse passageways within the CAD model in which the virtual inverse passageways have the same profile along their length.

[0066] With particular reference to FIG. 7A, middle virtual guide block 176B of what will become virtual dental overlay device 172A is prepared via a first Boolean operation between a preset first virtual solid guide block (not shown) and a first portion of the virtual inverse passageway associated with respective virtual modified tooth 160C in which the first portion of the virtual inverse passageway becomes open virtual passageway 177B corresponding to passageway 114B, including slot 109B, of guide block 112B of overlay device 102A. The first virtual solid guide block is solid with the same outer profile as middle virtual guide block 176B and extends completely around the first portion of the virtual inverse passageway except on one end prior to the first Boolean operation for generating middle virtual guide block 176B. On that one end, the first portion of the virtual inverse passageway extends beyond the first virtual solid guide block such that the first Boolean operation for generating middle virtual guide block 176B forms virtual entryway 178A corresponding to entryway 108A of dental overlay device 102A. In this example, virtual tooth wrap 179 is created over modified tooth model 150 and a second Boolean operation is performed between the virtual tooth wrap, and in particular a buccal side of the virtual tooth wrap, and the first portion of the virtual inverse passageway before, at the same time as, or after the first Boolean operation for generating middle virtual guide block 176B.

[0067] Similarly, with reference to FIG. 7B, middle virtual guide block 180B of what will become virtual dental overlay device 172B is prepared via a first Boolean operation between a preset second virtual solid block (not shown) and a second portion of the virtual inverse passageway associated with respective virtual modified tooth 160C in which the second portion of the virtual inverse passageway becomes open virtual passageway 18 IB corresponding to passageway 115B, including slot HOB, of guide block 113B of overlay device 102B. The preset second virtual solid guide block is solid with the same outer profile as middle virtual guide block 180B and extends completely around the second portion of the virtual inverse passageway extend on one end prior to the Boolean operation for generating middle virtual guide block 180B. On that one end, the second portion of the virtual inverse passageway extends beyond the second virtual solid guide block such that the second Boolean operation for generating middle virtual guide block 180B forms virtual entry way 178B corresponding to entry way 108B of dental overlay device 102B. In this example, virtual tooth wrap 182 is created over modified tooth model 150 and a second Boolean operation is performed between the virtual tooth wrap, and in particular a buccal side of the virtual tooth wrap, and the first portion of the virtual inverse passageway before, at the same time as, or after the first Boolean operation for generating middle virtual guide block 180B.

[0068] Referring now to FIGS. 8 A and 8B, outer virtual guide blocks 176 A, 176C of what will become virtual dental overlay device 172 A are generated extending from virtual tooth wrap 176B in the same manner as middle virtual guide block 176B and outer virtual guide blocks 180A, 180C of what will become virtual dental overlay device 172B are generated extending from virtual tooth wrap 180B in the same manner as middle virtual guide block 180B. In this manner, in this example, respective virtual passageways 177A, 177C, 181A, 181C and virtual slots 183A, 183C, 184A, 184C of such virtual passageways corresponding to passageways 114A, 115A, 115C that include slots 109A, 110A, HOC and additional virtual entryways 178A, 178B are generated. Preferably, outer virtual guide blocks 176A, 176C are generated using the preset first virtual solid guide block as with middle virtual guide block 176B and outer virtual guide blocks 180A, 180C are generated using the preset second virtual guide block as with middle virtual guide block 180B for ease of use by a user of the CAD modeling software.

[0069] In some arrangements, each of virtual guide blocks 176A-176C, 18OA-18OC of the same virtual dental overlay device 172A, 172B are prepared separately such that only oneof the blocks is prepared at a time. In some other arrangements, some virtual guide blocks 176A-176C, 18OA-18OC of the same virtual dental overlay device 172A, 172B are prepared at the same time or at least partially prepared at the same time. The timing depends on the needs of the user of the CAD model and efficiencies to be gained.

[0070] In some arrangements, dental overlay device data corresponding to virtual dental overlay devices 172A, 172B may be exported to a data file, such as but not limited to an .STL, 3MF, AMF file. Such data file may be used or converted to use by a 3D printing or CAM machine for fabrication of dental overlay devices 102A, 102B.

[0071] Referring now to FIG. 9, dental instrumentation for use in limiting the movement of a cutting tool in the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient may be prepared by process 200. At step 210 of process 200, first end depth plane data corresponding to a first end depth plane associated with a first virtual tooth, such as those discussed previously herein with respect to FIGS. 6A and 6B, at a predetermined end depth distance, in a lingual direction, from a first gum surface plane associated with the first virtual tooth, e.g. gum surface plane 173, and passing through a buccal-most region of a virtual gum surface, e.g., buccal-most regions 14A-14F of virtual gum surface 15, corresponding to a gum surface of the patient is set, via one or more computer processors. At step 220 of process 220, first virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a first virtual curved pathway associated with the first virtual tooth, e.g., virtual curved pathway 175, and extending in a buccal direction from the first end depth plane for a predetermined pathway distance is set, via the one or more computer processors. At step 230 of process 200, a first passageway Boolean operation may be performed, via the one or more computer processors, between first virtual solid guide block data corresponding to a first virtual solid guide block (which may be but is not limited to being associated with the first virtual tooth or being a predetermined size and form for all virtual teeth) and first virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a first portion of the first virtual curved pathway to form first virtual final guide block data corresponding to a first virtual final guide block, e.g., any of virtual guide blocks 176A-176C, 18OA-18OC, with a first passageway, e.g., any respective open virtual passageways 177A-177C, 181A-181C, in which the first passageway may be an inverse of the first portion of the first virtual curved pathway. At step 240 of process 200, first final instrument configuration data, which may include the first virtual final guide block data and which corresponds to or forms part of a final instrumentconfiguration, may be exported, via the one or more computer processors, to a data storage file configured for use with manufacturing devices.

[0072] In some such arrangements, the manufacturing devices may be either one of or both computer-aided manufacturing devices and additive manufacturing devices. In some arrangements, steps 210 to 230 may be repeated with additional end depth plane data corresponding to additional end depth planes additional gum surface planes, and additional virtual curved pathways associated with respective additional virtual teeth in forming respective additional virtual final guide blocks with additional passageways. In some arrangements, the final instrument configuration may be in the form of a virtual dental overlay device, e.g., virtual dental overlay devices 172A, 172B.

[0073] Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11A, and 1 IB, dental cutting tool calibration device 300 includes upper insertion portion 301 and lower base 302, which as in the example shown may be wider in portions than the upper insertion portion for stability when placing the calibration device on a flat or substantially flat surface. Upper insertion portion includes upper contact surface 303 configured for contact with flange 107 of handpiece 103 of dental tool assembly 101 and lower contact surface 304 spaced from the upper contact surface and configured for contact with tip 120 of cutting tool 104 of the dental tool assembly. As in the example shown, calibration device 300 may include upper channel 305 and lower channel 306 extending from the upper channel in which the lower channel is narrower than the upper channel to help center cutting tool 104 upon insertion of cutting tool 104 into the calibration device. With particular reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, in use, elongated shaft 105 of cutting tool 104 is partially inserted into handpiece 103 through flange 107 of the handpiece such that the cutting tool is slideable within the handpiece. Cutting tool 104 is then inserted into upper and lower channels 305, 306 of calibration device 300 until tip 120 of the cutting tool contacts lower contact surface 304 (as in FIG. 11B). Lower contact surface 302 of calibration device 300 is then pressed against tip 120 causing elongated shaft 105 of cutting tool 104 to be further inserted into handpiece 103 until upper contact surface 303 abuts flange 107 of the handpiece. At that time, elongated shaft 105 may be locked into position within handpiece 103, e.g., by depressing a button on the handpiece 103. In this manner, tip 120 of cutting tool 104 may be set at a fixed distance relative to flange 107 of handpiece 103.

[0074] Referring again to FIG. 2, by fixing the relative positions of tip 120 of cutting tool 104 and flange 107 of handpiece 103 with calibration device 300, the relative positions ofslots 109A, 109B, 110A-110C of guide blocks 112A-112C, 113A-113C can be set at predetermined distances from teeth to be treated such that grooves prepared along cervical margins of the teeth to be treated by the tip of the cutting tool using dental instrumentation system 100 are formed at predetermined depths into the teeth to be treated. In this manner, a sufficient amount of tooth structure may be removed from teeth to be treated while minimizing or preventing the removal of excess tooth structure.

[0075] It is to be further understood that the disclosure set forth herein includes any possible combinations of the particular features set forth above, whether specifically disclosed herein or not. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect, arrangement, configuration, or embodiment, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and / or in the context of other particular aspects, arrangements, configurations, and embodiments of the technology, and in the technology generally.

[0076] Furthermore, although the technology herein has been described with reference to particular features, it is to be understood that these features are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present technology. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications, including changes in the sizes of the various features described herein, may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology. In this regard, the present disclosure encompasses numerous additional features in addition to those specific features set forth in the paragraphs below. Moreover, the foregoing disclosure should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation as the present technology is defined by the paragraphs set forth below.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A dental overlay device configured for limiting the operation of a dental instrument to a removal of a predetermined portion of a structure of a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient and comprising a body, the body having a length, a width, and a thickness and comprising: a tooth wrap configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to secure the body in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated; and a guide block extending from the tooth wrap, the guide block including an upper surface, one or more side surfaces extending from the upper surface, a passageway extending from the upper surface and configured for receiving and for contacting the dental instrument and thereby limiting movements of the dental instrument in the removal of the predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated, and a tooth opening in communication with the passageway, the tooth opening being configured for exposing only a buccal surface of the tooth to be treated such that only the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated is in communication with the passageway when the tooth wrap of the dental overlay device is fully seated on the one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to which the tooth wrap is configured for contacting to secure the body in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated.

2. The dental overlay device of claim 1 , wherein the guide block extends from only a buccal side of the tooth wrap.

3. The dental overlay device of claim 1, wherein the tooth opening is configured to expose a cervical margin of the tooth to be treated when the tooth wrap of the dental overlay device is fully seated on the one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to which the tooth wrap is configured for contacting to secure the body in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated.

4. The dental overlay device of claim 1, wherein the passageway includes a slot, and wherein, within a cross-section of the passageway, the slot is wider than a remainder of the passageway.

5. The dental overlay device of claim 4, wherein a central axis along the crosssection of the passageway aligns with a cervical margin of the tooth to be treated.

6. The dental overlay device of claim 1, wherein the guide block includes an entryway extending through one of the one or more side surfaces and into the passageway, wherein the entryway defines a first plane and the tooth opening defines a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.

7. The dental overlay device of claim 1, further comprising an additional guide block extending from the tooth wrap and including an upper surface, one or more side surfaces extending from the upper surface, a passageway extending from the upper surface and configured for receiving and for contacting the dental instrument and thereby limiting movements of the dental instrument in the removal of the predetermined portion of the structure of an additional tooth to be treated, and a tooth opening in communication with the passageway and configured for receipt of at least a portion of the additional tooth to be treated.

8. A system of dental overlay devices, comprising: the dental overlay device of claim 1 ; and a second dental overlay device configured for limiting the operation of the dental instrument to a removal of an additional predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient and comprising a body, the body of the second dental overlay device having a length, a width, and a thickness and comprising: a tooth wrap configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to secure the body of the second dental overlay device in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated; and a guide block extending from the tooth wrap of the second dental overlay device, the guide block of the second dental overlay device including an upper surface, one or more side surfaces extending from the upper surface of the second dental overlay device, a passageway extending from the upper surface of the second dental overlay device and configured for receiving and for contacting the dental instrument and thereby limiting movements of the dental instrument in the removal of the additional predetermined portion of the structure of the tooth to be treated, and a tooth opening in communication with thepassageway of the second dental overlay device, the tooth opening being configured for exposing only the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated such that only the buccal surface of the tooth to be treated is in communication with the passageway of the second dental overlay device, wherein the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices are configured such that after insertion and full travel of the dental instrument within each of the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices, the removal of the tooth structure removed from the tooth to be treated by the dental instrument leaves a continuous groove in the tooth to be treated in the shape of an arc.

9. The system of dental overlay devices of claim 8, wherein the arc is U-shaped.

10. A dental system configured for removing a predetermined portion of a cervical margin of a tooth to be treated, comprising: a dental instrument including a base and a cutting tool, the cutting tool extending from the base and including a tip; and a dental overlay device comprising: a tooth wrap configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of a patient to secure the dental overlay device in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated; and a guide block extending from the tooth wrap and including a passageway, wherein the dental instrument is receivable in and movable along the passageway, and wherein a contact section of the passageway is configured to conform to a shape of a corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument such that the tip of the cutting tool removes at least a portion of a structure from the tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is received in and moved along the passageway.

11. The dental system of 10, wherein the dental overlay device is configured to limit movements of the dental instrument such that the cutting tool removes only a predetermined portion of the structure from the tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is activated and moved along an entirety of the passageway.

12. The dental system of claim 10, wherein the cutting tool is dental bur.

13. The dental system of claim 10, wherein the guide block further includes an entryway in communication with the passageway, wherein the dental instrument is receivable into the passageway via the entryway.

14. The dental system of claim 10, wherein the base is a dental handpiece and the cutting tool includes an elongated shaft.

15. The dental system of claim 14, wherein the contact section of the passageway contacts the cutting tool to fix the orientation of the elongated shaft of the cutting tool such that a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft passes through the tooth to be treated.

16. The dental system of claim 14, wherein the dental handpiece includes a flange, wherein the passageway includes a slot region and a shaft region narrower than the slot region, and wherein the flange and the slot region are configured such that the flange slides along the slot region when the dental overlay device is received within the guide block.

17. The dental system of claim 16, further comprising a dental cutting tool calibration device, the dental cutting tool calibration device including an upper contact surface, a lower contact surface, and a channel attaching the upper contact surface to the lower contact surface, wherein the cutting tool is insertable into the channel of the dental cutting tool calibration device, and wherein the lower surface is configured to contact the tip of the cutting tool to insert the elongated shaft into the dental handpiece such that a distance between the flange of the dental handpiece and the tip of the dental instrument is the same as the distance between the upper and the lower contact surfaces of the of the dental cutting tool calibration device.

18. The dental system of claim 10, further comprising an additional guide block extending from the tooth wrap and including a passageway, wherein the dental instrument is receivable in and movable along the passageway of the additional guide block, and wherein acontact section of the passageway of the additional guide block is configured to conform to a shape of a corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument such that the tip of the cutting tool removes at least a portion of a structure from an additional tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is received in and moved along the passageway of the additional guide block.

19. The dental system of claim 10, further comprising a second dental overlay device comprising: a tooth wrap configured for contacting portions of one or more teeth in the mouth of the patient to secure the second dental overlay device in a fixed position relative to the tooth to be treated; and a guide block extending from the tooth wrap of the second dental overlay device and including a passageway, wherein the dental instrument is receivable in and movable along the passageway of the second dental overlay device, and wherein a contact section of the passageway of the second dental overlay device is configured to conform to a shape of a corresponding portion of the base of the dental instrument such that the tip of the cutting tool removes at least an additional portion of the structure from the tooth to be treated when the dental instrument is received in and moved along the passageway of the second dental overlay device, and wherein the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices are configured such that after insertion and full travel of the dental instrument within each of the passageways of the first and the second dental overlay devices, the removal of the tooth structure removed from the tooth to be treated by the dental instrument leaves a continuous groove in the tooth to be treated in the shape of an arc.

20. A method for treating a working tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient, the method comprising: securing a first surface of a dental guide device onto one or more teeth of the patient; andmoving a dental instrument along a track within the dental guide device such that a tip of a shaft of the cutting tool of the dental instrument removes a first portion of an enamel from the tooth to be treated.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving the dental instrument through an opening of the dental guide device such that a flange of the dental instrument is received into the track of the dental guide device, wherein moving the dental instrument slides the flange along the track, and wherein the shaft of the cutting tool is orthogonal to the flange such that a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the cutting tool passes through the tooth to be treated during the moving of the dental instrument.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: securing a first surface of an additional dental guide device onto the one or more teeth of the patient; and moving the dental instrument along a track within the additional dental guide device such that the tip of the shaft of the dental cutting tool of the dental instrument removes a second portion of enamel from the tooth to be treated.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the removal of the first and the second portions of the enamel removed from the tooth to be treated leaves a continuous groove in the tooth to be treated in the shape of an arc.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the enamel is a portion of a cervical margin of the tooth to be treated.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising: inserting the cutting tool into a dental tool calibration device such that the tip of the cutting tool extending from a handpiece of the dental instrument contacts a lower surface of the dental tool calibration device; and pressing the lower surface of the dental tool calibration device against the tip of the cutting tool to insert the cutting tool deeper into the handpiece until an upper surface of thedental tool calibration device opposite the lower surface abuts a flange of the handpiece to set a depth of the tip of the cutting tool from the flange of the handpiece.

26. A method of preparing dental instrumentation for use in limiting the movement of a cutting tool in the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient, comprising: setting, via one or more computer processors, first end depth plane data corresponding to a first end depth plane associated with a first virtual tooth at a predetermined end depth distance, in a lingual direction, from a first gum surface plane associated with the first virtual tooth and passing through a buccal-most region of a virtual gum surface corresponding to a gum surface of the patient; setting, via the one or more computer processors, first virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a first virtual curved pathway associated with the first virtual tooth and extending in a buccal direction from the first end depth plane for a predetermined pathway distance; performing, via the one or more computer processors, a first passageway Boolean operation between first virtual solid guide block data corresponding to a first virtual solid guide block and first virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a first portion of the first virtual curved pathway to form first virtual final guide block data corresponding to a first virtual final guide block with a first passageway, the first passageway being an inverse of the first portion of the first virtual curved pathway; exporting, via the one or more computer processors, first final instrument configuration data, including the first virtual final guide block data and corresponding to or forming part of a first final instrument configuration, to a data storage file configured for use with manufacturing devices selected from the group consisting of computer-aided manufacturing devices and additive manufacturing devices.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising, via the one or more computer processors, performing a tooth wrap Boolean operation between virtual tooth wrap data corresponding to a virtual tooth wrap and the first virtual final guide block data, wherein the first final instrument configuration data further includes the virtual tooth wrap data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the tooth wrap Boolean operation is performed before performing the first passageway Boolean operation.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first virtual solid guide block has a predetermined size and form.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising: performing, via the one or more computer processors, a second passageway Boolean operation between second virtual solid guide block data corresponding to a second virtual solid guide block and second virtual curved pathway data corresponding to a second portion of the first virtual curved pathway to form second virtual final guide block data corresponding to a second virtual final guide block with a second passageway, the second passageway being an inverse of the second portion of the first virtual curved pathway; and exporting, via the one or more computer processors, second final instrument configuration data, including the second virtual final guide block data and corresponding to a second final instrument configuration to a data storage file configured for use with the manufacturing devices.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising performing, via the one or more computer processors, an additional tooth wrap Boolean operation between additional virtual tooth wrap data corresponding to an additional virtual tooth wrap and the second virtual final guide block data, wherein the second final instrument configuration data further includes the additional virtual tooth wrap data.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the additional tooth wrap Boolean operation is performed before performing the second passageway Boolean operation.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the predetermined end depth distance is in a range from about 250 pm to about 400 pm.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the predetermined end depth distance is in a range from 300 pm to 350 pm.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising importing, via the more or more computer processors, gum surface data corresponding to the virtual gum surface, the gum surface data being obtained via an intraoral scan of a dentition of the patient or a scan of an impression of the dentition of the patient.

36. Dental instrumentation for use in limiting the movement of a cutting tool in the removal of tooth structure from a tooth to be treated in the mouth of a patient, the dental instrumentation prepared by the method of claim 26.

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