3D Occlusion Alignment for Premature Tooth Contact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting premature contact positions between upper and lower teeth during occlusion suffer from inaccuracies due to fluctuations in contact positions and occlusal pressure caused by the subject biting a sensor sheet, making precise detection challenging.
Innovation Solution
A detection system utilizing a three-dimensional scanner and detection apparatus that processes three-dimensional data of the teeth to synthesize and align upper and lower jaw tooth row data, allowing for accurate detection of premature contact positions without requiring the subject to bite a sensor sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor sheet is used to detect premature contact positions, then contact positions and occlusal pressure can be detected, but the measurements fluctuate due to variations in occlusion degree by the subject
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional digital model (copy) of the patient's teeth structure instead of using physical sensor sheets. This digital replica allows for repeated, consistent measurements without the variability introduced by physical sheet occlusion, thereby maintaining measurement precision while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor sheet system with a computational imaging system. Instead of relying on physical contact between sensor sheet and teeth, the system uses three-dimensional scanning and digital model alignment to detect premature contact positions, eliminating the mechanical variability inherent in sheet-based methods.
2Reliability
If three-dimensional scanning and digital model alignment are used, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional scanner serves multiple functions: it captures the patient's tooth structure, creates digital models, and enables premature contact detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby managing complexity while maintaining high measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the patient's own tooth structure as the measurement reference frame. By aligning digital models based on the patient's actual anatomy rather than external fixtures or sensor sheets, the system achieves reliable measurements while minimizing the complexity of additional positioning equipment required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A detection apparatus (1) includes an input interface (14) to which upper-jaw tooth row data, lower-jaw tooth row data and occlusion data are to be input, the upper-jaw tooth row data indicating a three-dimensional shape of a row of teeth of an upper jaw acquired by a three-dimensional scanner (2) when upper and lower rows of teeth are in an open state, the lower-jaw tooth row data indicating a three-dimensional shape of a row of teeth of a lower jaw acquired by three-dimensional scanner (2) when the upper and lower rows of teeth are in the open state, the occlusion data indicating a three-dimensional shape of the upper and lower rows of teeth acquired by the three-dimensional scanner (2) when the upper and lower rows of teeth are in an occlusal state, and a calculation apparatus (11) that detects a premature contact position by generating synthetic data indicating a three-dimensional shape of the upper and lower rows of teeth in the occlusal state by synthesizing the upper-jaw tooth row data and the lower-jaw tooth row data using the occlusion data as a reference and updating at least one tooth row data of the upper-jaw tooth row data and the lower-jaw tooth row data included in the synthetic data so that a state of the upper and lower rows of teeth is displaced from the occlusal state to the open state.