Method for producing a dental arch model, dental arch model, and arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a dental arch model (100) intended to be detachably arranged on an articulator plate (300) of an articulator (1), and to a corresponding dental arch model (100) and to an arrangement comprising such a dental arch model (100). The dental arch model (100) is manufactured by 3D printing and comprises a model base plate (200) formed in one piece therewith, wherein the model base plate (200) has a number of recesses (220) which each have a bearing surface (225) in the form of a concave spherical-segment surface and which correspond to a number of projections (320) that are provided on the upper side of the articulator plate (300) and each have a bearing surface (325) in the form of a convex spherical-segment surface, and the recesses (220) on the model base plate (200) are designed such that the produced dental arch model (100), when arranged on the articulator plate (300), rests exclusively with the bearing surfaces (225) in the form of a concave spherical segment surface on the bearing surfaces (325) in the form of a convex spherical segment surface at the articulator plate (300), and the model base plate (200) and the articulator plate (300) are otherwise spaced apart from one another.

Description

21.08.2025 / BR Method for producing a gear ring model, gear ring model and arrangement

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a toothed ring model intended for detachable arrangement on an articulation plate of an articulator, as well as a corresponding toothed ring model and an arrangement comprising a toothed ring model.

[0002] Dental arch models are used to fabricate dental prostheses, especially fixed prostheses such as crowns or bridges. First, the patient's teeth to be treated are typically prepared as stumps, or one or more implants are placed to support the prosthesis. A virtual dental arch model can then be created from this prepared dental arch using a suitable scanner. Typically, dental arch models are produced for both the upper and lower jaw, regardless of which tooth(s) have actually been prepared or which implant(s) have been placed.

[0003] A captured virtual dental arch model can then be edited or modified using suitable software. In particular, individual teeth, tooth stumps, or groups of teeth and / or tooth stumps can be configured as removable inserts from the dental arch model. For this purpose, specially shaped recesses are provided in the dental arch model for each insert, enabling unambiguous positioning of the corresponding insert within the respective recess. An insert can be placed into its receptacle and pressed firmly into place, thus securing it by friction. To make removing such inserts easier and, in particular, damage-free, it is regularly provided that To carry out the insertion of inserts - and if necessary the inserts themselves - down to the underside of the gear model, so that inserts can be pushed out of the gear model and the inserts from below using a suitable tool.

[0004] State-of-the-art dental arch models are typically mounted on bases, for example, using a plug-in connection. These bases can, in turn, be detachably attached to an articulator, which allows the models of the upper and lower jaws to be positioned according to their relative positions in the patient's dentition, and enables the simulation of chewing and other jaw movements. If the dental arch model is detachably attached to an articulator, a precisely fitting, reconstructible connection is generally preferred. This allows a dental technician to remove a dental arch model from the articulator for further processing without having to readjust the articulator when reinserting the model.

[0005] It is known to either build a gear model onto a pre-made base using 3D printing, or to manufacture the base and gear model together using a 3D printer. However, particularly with the latter method, it has been shown that a truly precise fit with the articulator cannot always be guaranteed.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to create a method for producing a gear ring model and a correspondingly produced gear ring model in which the disadvantages of the prior art no longer occur or only occur to a reduced extent.

[0007] This problem is solved by a method according to claim 1, a gear ring model according to claim 8, and an arrangement according to claim 13. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] Accordingly, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a toothed ring model intended for detachable arrangement on an articulation plate of an articulator, wherein the articulation plate has at least three projections on its upper side, each with a bearing surface in the form of a convex spherical part surface, comprising the steps of: - Modeling a virtual gear ring model; - Supplementing the virtual gear ring model with a virtual model base plate model to form a one-piece model, wherein the model base plate model has a number of recesses corresponding to the number of projections of the articulating plate, each with a bearing surface in the form of a concave spherical part surface; and - Production of a gear ring model with an integrated model base plate based on the one-piece model by 3D printing, wherein the recesses on the model base plate are designed in such a way that the produced gear ring model, when arranged on the articulation plate, rests exclusively on the articulation plate with the contact surfaces in the form of a concave spherical part surface and the contact surfaces in the form of a convex spherical part surface, and the model base plate and articulation plate are otherwise spaced apart from each other.

[0009] The invention further relates to a gear ring model designed for detachable arrangement on an articulation plate of an articulator, wherein the articulation plate has at least three projections on its upper side, each with a bearing surface in the form of a convex spherical part surface, wherein the gear ring model is manufactured by 3D printing and comprises a model base plate integrally molded thereon, wherein the model base plate has a number of recesses corresponding to the number of projections of the articulation plate, each with a bearing surface in the form of a concave spherical part surface, and the recesses on the model base plate are designed such thatthat the manufactured tooth ring model, when arranged on the articulation plate, rests exclusively on the articulation plate with its contact surfaces in the form of a concave spherical part surface and on the contact surfaces in the form of a convex spherical part surface, and that the model base plate and articulation plate are otherwise spaced apart from each other.

[0010] The invention also relates to an arrangement consisting of a gear ring model according to the invention or manufactured according to the invention and an articulation plate, wherein the articulation plate has at least three projections on its upper side, each with a bearing surface in the form of a convex spherical partial surface, and the recesses on the model base plate of the gear ring model are designed such that, when arranged on the articulation plate, the gear ring model rests exclusively on the bearing surfaces in the form of a concave spherical partial surface on the bearing surfaces in the form of a convex spherical partial surface on the articulation plate, and the model base plate and articulation plate are otherwise spaced apart from each other.

[0011] The invention has recognized that if the model base plate is manufactured in one piece together with the gear ring module by 3D printing, the underside of the model base plate is often not completely flat, since this surface is regularly used for attachment to the build platform of a 3D printer and regularly has unevenness due to detachment from the build platform and / or required post-treatment of the printed model.

[0012] With the inventive design of the model base plate, in which the bearing surfaces are formed away from the underside of the model base plate, it is ensured that these bearing surfaces do not exhibit any unevenness that might result from the detachment of the printed model from the build platform. Since the bearing surfaces are further designed such that, when interacting with corresponding receiving surfaces on the articulation plate to which the model base plate can be attached, a gap exists, among other things, between the underside of the model base plate and the articulation plate, it is also ensured that any unevenness on the underside of the model base plate has no effect on the relative position of the model base plate and the articulation plate to each other.Consequently, a clear relative position between the articulation plate and the toothed ring model, which is manufactured in one piece with the model base plate, is established, and this position is particularly easy to reliably restore. The aforementioned distance between the underside of the model base plate and the articulation plate is preferably at least 1 mm.

[0013] If, as is generally known from the prior art, at least one removable insert is provided when modeling the virtual gear ring model, it is preferred if at least the - often generally conical - The receptacle for a removable insert, and if necessary, the removable insert itself, should be completely pulled through the model base plate model after the virtual model base plate model has been completed. In other words, at least the receptacles for the removable inserts should extend to the underside of the model base plate model and be open on the side of the model base plate facing away from the toothed ring, so that pushing the inserts out through the model base plate remains possible. Since the necessary recesses in the model base plate or the associated model base plate model are created solely based on the actual desired receptacles for inserts, the structural integrity of the model base plate is only minimally affected. In particular, there are no larger and / or regular recesses in the model base plate that would weaken the structural integrity.the model base plate model, in whose area no insertion may be intended for a specific gear ring model.

[0014] Alternatively, the virtual model base plate model can have a toothed-ring-shaped recess, and the virtual toothed-ring model, provided with at least one removable insert, can be supplemented by the virtual model base plate such that at least one receptacle for the removable inserts in the virtual toothed-ring model opens into the toothed-ring-shaped recess of the virtual model base plate model. With the toothed-ring model thus supplemented, the at least one insert can be pushed out of the toothed-ring model through the toothed-ring-shaped recess in the model base plate. Providing a toothed-ring-shaped recess in the virtual model base plate model can be advantageous if the application with which the virtual toothed-ring model is connected through the virtual The model base plate model is supplemented, but does not allow for modification of the model base plate model – for example, to insert fixtures. The model base plate model can then be freely moved, pivoted, and rotated relative to the gear ring model to position the gear ring-shaped recess so that the removable inserts in the gear ring model can later be pushed out through the gear ring-shaped opening. The virtual model base plate model preferably has the recess centrally located and in one or more standardized sizes.

[0015] To save material in the area of ​​the model base plate and to accelerate the 3D printing process of the model base plate, it can be designed that the model base plate model, and thus the molded model base plate, has a structure, in particular a lattice-like structure, in certain areas. A lattice-like structure is particularly well suited for 3D printing and allows for material savings while generally maintaining sufficient strength. To ensure the structural integrity of the model base plate, the ratio of free spaces in the structure in question to the actual structure should be at most 2:1. In other words, the proportion of free spaces in the correspondingly structured areas should be at most twice as high as the proportion of the actual structure. These proportions can be determined, for example, based on the respective volume occupied.It is particularly preferred if the ratio of free space to structure is at most 1 : 1 .

[0016] As an alternative to providing a structure, the model base plate can also be structureless. Apart from any through-holes for inserts, the model base plate is then designed as a solid body.

[0017] In the subsequent use of a gear ring model manufactured according to the invention, the model base plate should be detachably attached to the articulation plate. For this purpose, a magnetic fastening of the model base plate to the articulation plate is known from the prior art, in which a magnetic fastening element is arranged on one of the plates to interact with a magnetizable fastening element on the other plate.

[0018] In the model base plate provided for the method according to the invention, and thus also in the model base plate produced on the basis of this model, a lateral insertion is preferably provided into which a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element can be inserted and received. It is preferred if the lateral insertion is designed to provide a force-fit securing mechanism for a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element inserted therein in the insertion direction and a form-fit securing mechanism perpendicular to the insertion direction. For example, the insertion can have projections and / or grooves extending parallel to the insertion direction, which can interact in a form-fit manner with suitable grooves and / or projections on a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element.A secure, force-fit fastening of the fastener within the slot can be achieved by appropriately dimensioning the slot in relation to the fastener. Because the fastener is secured in the slot solely by force-fit, the magnetic or magnetizable fastener can be removed from the model base plate without damage and then inserted into another model base plate. Consequently, the magnetic or magnetizable fasteners can be easily reused. especially during long-term storage of a gear model, do not leave the gear model on the gear model.

[0019] The gear ring model including the model base plate is preferably made from a plastic using 3D printing, preferably by means of bath-based photopolymerization.

[0020] For an explanation of the gear ring model and the arrangement according to the invention, reference is made to the preceding statements. In both cases, the gear ring model is preferably produced using the method according to the invention.

[0021] The invention is described by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment and the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1: an articulator with a toothed ring model inserted therein according to the prior art; Figure 2: Schematic representation of the invention Method for producing a gear ring model according to the invention Figure 3: schematic representation of a gear ring model produced according to Figure 2 according to the invention; Figure 4: an articulation plate matching the gear ring model according to Figure 3; and Figure 5: an arrangement according to the invention consisting of a gear ring model according to Figure 3 and an articulation plate according to Figure 4.

[0022] Figure 1 shows an articulator 1 according to the prior art. Two articulation plates 300 are arranged on the articulator 1, to which a dental arch model 100 is attached by means of a model base plate 200. The articulator 1 enables the precise alignment of the two dental arch models 100 relative to each other and the simulation of chewing and other jaw movements.

[0023] In the articulator 1 shown in Figure 1 according to the prior art, the articulation plates 200 are fixedly mounted, for example by screwing, while the toothed ring models 100 can be easily exchanged due to a magnetic connection between the model base plate 200 and the articulation plates 200.

[0024] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a gear ring model 100 according to the invention, which can be detachably connected to an articulation plate 300 according to Figure 4 (see arrangement according to Figure 5). For use of the invention in an articulator 1 according to Figure 1, the articulation plates 300 therein are to be replaced by articulation plates 300 according to Figure 4, whereby gear ring models 100 according to the invention can then be used with the articulator 1.

[0025] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the method for manufacturing a gear ring model 100 according to the invention.

[0026] The method according to the invention starts with a virtual dental arch model 100', as is known from the prior art, which is why a detailed description of the modeling of a dental arch model is omitted. In short, after possible preparation of the patient's teeth, a virtual dental arch model 100' is created using a suitable scanner, which represents the upper or lower jaw. It is fully represented. The captured virtual gear model 100' can then be edited or modified with suitable software.

[0027] It is also known from the prior art to design a single tooth, a tooth stump, or a group of teeth and / or tooth stump in the virtual dental model 100' as a removable insert 110' – initially virtually. For this purpose, the removable insert 110' of the dental model 100' is virtually cut out and provided with a conical pin 120'. The remaining dental model 100' receives a virtual conical receptacle 130', which is designed and arranged such that the insert 110' is in its original position when the conical pin 120' is inserted into the conical receptacle 130'. The conical receptacle 130' projects to the underside of the virtual dental model 100'.

[0028] Even though the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is limited to one insert 110', further inserts 110' can easily be provided in the virtual gear ring model 100'.

[0029] In addition to the modeled virtual gear ring model 100', a virtual model base plate model 200' is provided.

[0030] The virtual model base plate model 200' comprises a plate-shaped base body 210', which in the illustrated embodiment is structure-free. However, it is possible that the base body 210' has at least a partial lattice-like structure, in which the ratio of free spaces to the lattice structure is at most 2:1. Model base plate model 200' may also have a toothed-ring-shaped recess (not shown).

[0031] The virtual model base plate model 200' has three recesses 220' on the underside of the plate-shaped base body 210', the walls of which each form a bearing surface 225' in the form of a concave spherical sub-surface. The bearing surface 225' has a size of at least 0.5 cm. 2 preferably of at least 1.0 cm 2 The contact surface 225' preferably has a size between 1.0 cm. 2 and 2 cm 2 on.

[0032] Furthermore, the model base plate model 200' has a lateral insertion 230'. The wall of the insertion 230' has a circumferential projection 235'.

[0033] The previously modeled gear ring model 100' is supplemented by the model base plate model 200' to form the virtual gear ring model 100' with molded-on model base plate model 200' shown in Figure 1 below.

[0034] The cone-shaped receptacle 130' present in the gear ring model 100' is completely passed through the model base plate model 200', so that the receptacle 130' is open on the underside of the model base plate model 200'.

[0035] In parallel, the conical pin 120' of the insert 110' is extended so that, when inserted into the virtual gear ring model 100', the conical pin 120' completely fills the conical receptacle 130', thus extending to the underside of the model base plate model 200' (see Figure 3, in which the insert 110 produced on the basis of the model 110' is inserted into the gear ring model 100 produced according to the invention).

[0036] The virtual gear ring model 100', supplemented by the model base plate model 200' – i.e., the one-piece model 100' + 200' – is ultimately manufactured, as is the insert 110', using established 3D printing methods. The gear ring model 100 with the molded-on model base plate 200, as well as the insert 110, correspond to virtual models 100' with 200' and 110', respectively.

[0037] The gear ring model 100 produced according to the inventive method is shown in Figure 3, with the insert 110 inserted into the gear ring model 100 produced according to the inventive method. As can be seen immediately, the insert 110 can be pushed out of the gear ring model 100 from below through the model base plate 200 and thus released if necessary.

[0038] A magnetizable metal fastening element 240 can be inserted into the lateral slot 230 of the gear ring model 200 as required. The circular fastening element 240 has a circumferential groove 245 which interacts with the projection 235 on the slot 230 in such a way that the fastening element 240 is positively locked in the slot 230 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The width of the slot 230 is matched to the diameter of the fastening element 240 such that the fastening element 240 is generally secured by friction in the insertion direction, meaning that it can also be pulled out of the slot 230 again by applying suitable force if necessary.

[0039] Figure 4 shows an articulation plate 300, to which the model base plate model 200' used in the manufacture of the gear ring model 100 according to the invention is adapted, with which the manufactured gear ring model 100 with the model base plate 200 molded onto it is then also is designed to be suitable for connection with the articulation plate 300.

[0040] The metal articulation plate 300 has three projections 320 on its upper side, each with a bearing surface 325 in the form of a convex spherical part surface.

[0041] Furthermore, the articulation plate 300 has a central receptacle 330 for a magnetic fastening element 340. The magnetic fastening element 340 can be attached to the receptacle 330 by frictional, positive, or material interlocking (not shown in detail).

[0042] The interaction of the model base plate 200 and the articulation plate 300, in particular the recesses 220 and projections 320, which are integrally formed on the toothed ring model 100, can be seen from the arrangement shown in Figure 5, consisting of the toothed ring model 100 produced according to the invention according to Figure 3 and the articulation plate 300 according to Figure 4.

[0043] The model base plate 200, and thus the underlying model base plate model 200, are designed to fit the articulation plate 300 such that the bearing surfaces 225 formed in the recesses 220 of the model base plate 200, in the form of concave spherical surfaces, lie on the bearing surfaces 325 formed by the projections 320, in the form of convex spherical surfaces. Apart from these bearing surfaces 225 and 325, the model base plate 200 and the articulation plate 300 do not touch, but rather have a distance of at least 1 mm between them.

[0044] Due to the design of the contact surfaces 225, 325 as spherical surfaces, an exact positioning of the toothed ring model 100 relative to the articulation plate 300 is possible. whereupon this positioning can be reliably restored even after a possible, temporary removal of the toothed model 100 from the articulation plate 300.

[0045] To detach the gear model 100 to the articulation plate 300, the magnetic fastening element 340 on the articulation plate 300 interacts with the magnetizable fastening element 240 on the gear model 100. To easily detach the gear model 100 from the articulation plate 300, the magnetic interaction of the two fastening elements 240 and 340 simply needs to be overcome when removing the gear model.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for producing a toothed ring model (100) intended for detachable arrangement on an articulation plate (300) of an articulator (1), wherein the articulation plate (300) has at least three projections (320) on its upper side, each with a bearing surface (325) in the form of a convex spherical sub-surface, comprising the steps: - Modeling a virtual gear ring model (100') ; - Supplementing the virtual gear ring model (100') with a virtual model base plate model (200') to form a one-piece model (100' + 200'), wherein the model base plate model (200') has a number of recesses (220') corresponding to the number of projections (320) of the articulating plate (300), each with a bearing surface (225') in the form of a concave spherical partial surface; and - Production of a gear ring model (100) with an integrally formed model base plate (200) based on the one-piece model (100' + 200') by 3D printing, wherein the recesses (220) on the model base plate (200) are designed such that the manufactured tooth ring model (100) when arranged on the articulation plate (300) rests exclusively on the articulation plate (300) with the bearing surfaces (225) in the form of a concave spherical partial surface on the bearing surfaces (325) in the form of a convex spherical partial surface and the model base plate (200) and articulation plate (300) are otherwise spaced apart from each other.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the modeling of the virtual gear ring model (100') comprises the modeling of at least one removable insert (110'), wherein the at least one receptacle (130') for the removable inserts (110') in the virtual gear ring model (100') is completely drawn through the model base plate model (200') after the virtual model base plate model (200') has been added.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the modeling of the virtual gear ring model (100') comprises the modeling of at least one removable insert (110'), wherein the virtual model base plate model (200') has a gear ring-shaped recess and the virtual gear ring model (100') is supplemented by the virtual model base plate model (200') such that at least one receptacle (130') for the removable inserts (110') in the virtual gear ring model (100') opens into the gear ring-shaped recess of the virtual model base plate model (200').

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the model base plate model (200') and thus the molded model base plate (200) has in certain areas a preferably grid-like structure with a ratio of free spaces to structure of at most 2:1, preferably at most 1:

1.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that 18 the model base plate model (200') and thus the molded model base plate (200) is structure-free.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the model base plate model (200') thus has the molded model base plate (200) a lateral insertion (230) for receiving a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element (240).

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the lateral insertion (230) is designed for force-locking securing of a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element (240) inserted therein in the insertion direction and for form-locking securing perpendicular to the insertion direction.

8. A gear ring model (200) designed for detachable mounting on an articulation plate (300) of an articulator (1), wherein the articulation plate (300) has at least three projections (320) on its upper surface, each with a bearing surface (325) in the form of a convex spherical partial surface, characterized in that the gear ring model (100) is manufactured by 3D printing and comprises a model base plate (200) integrally molded thereon, wherein the model base plate (200) has a number of recesses (225) corresponding to the number of projections (320) of the articulation plate (300), each with a bearing surface (225) in the form of a concave spherical partial surface, and the recesses (225) on the model base plate (200) are designed such that the manufactured gear ring model (100) can be mounted on the 19 The articulation plate (300) rests exclusively on the bearing surfaces (225) in the form of a concave spherical sub-surface on the bearing surfaces (325) in the form of a convex spherical sub-surface on the articulation plate (300), and the model base plate (200) and articulation plate (300) are otherwise spaced apart from each other.

9. Gear ring model according to claim 8, characterized in that the gear ring model (100) comprises at least one removable insert (110), wherein the at least one receptacle (130) for a removable insert (110) in the gear ring model (100) are completely drawn through the model base plate (200).

10. Gear ring model according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the model base plate (200) has a lateral insertion (230) for receiving a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element (240).

11. Gear ring model according to claim 10, characterized in that the lateral insertion (230) is designed for force-locking securing of a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element (240) inserted therein in the insertion direction and for form-locking securing perpendicular to the insertion direction.

12. Gear ring model according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element (240) is inserted into the lateral insertion and securely fastened there. 20 13. Arrangement comprising a gear ring model (100) according to one of claims 8 to 12 or manufactured according to a method according to one of claims 1 and 7 and an articulation plate (300), wherein the articulation plate (300) has at least three projections (320) on its upper side, each with a bearing surface (325) in the form of a convex spherical partial surface, and the recesses (220) on the model base plate (200) of the gear ring model (100) are designed such that, when arranged on the articulation plate (300), the gear ring model (100) rests exclusively with the bearing surfaces (225) in the form of a concave spherical partial surface on the bearing surfaces (325) in the form of a convex spherical partial surface on the articulation plate (300), and the model base plate (200) and articulation plate (300) are otherwise spaced apart from each other.

14. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the articulation plate (300) comprises a magnetic or magnetizable fastening element (340) which cooperates with a magnetizable or magnetic fastening element (240) on the gear ring model (100) to secure the gear ring model (100) in contact with the articulation plate (300).

15. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the articulation plate (300) is part of an articulator (1) or is attached to an articulator (1).

Images