3D Dentition Modeling With AI Occlusion Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital methods for creating a complete 3D model of a patient's dentition are limited by the inability to accurately combine separate 3D models of the upper and lower jaw, leading to high error rates in subsequent dental processes due to incomplete alignment techniques that do not account for the complex movements and friction between the jaws.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using artificial intelligence to align and combine digital 3D models of the upper and lower jaw, considering static and dynamic friction, inclination, and jaw movements, to determine an optimal contact surface and simulate occlusion, thereby creating a highly accurate digital 3D model of the dentition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual alignment methods are used to combine upper and lower jaw 3D models, then the process can be performed with existing technology, but the accuracy and reliability of the bite reproduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment methods with an automated computer-based alignment system. The system uses digital 3D models of the upper and lower jaws, processes them through computational algorithms, and automatically determines the optimal bite position without manual intervention, thereby eliminating the inaccuracies inherent in manual alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from fixed Z-axis shifting to a multi-parameter alignment method that accounts for translations along multiple axes (X, Y, Z) and rotations around multiple axes. This comprehensive parameter adjustment allows the system to capture the complex spatial relationship between upper and lower jaws, achieving accurate bite reproduction that manual methods cannot achieve
2Ease of manufacture
If Z-axis shift is used to eliminate intersections between jaws, then the alignment process is simple, but it fails to account for condylar path movements resulting in high error rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the alignment process from a single Z-axis dimension to a multi-dimensional parameter space. The system simultaneously adjusts translations along X, Y, and Z axes, and rotations around all three axes, creating a comprehensive transformation that captures the full range of motion including condylar path movements, thereby achieving high precision bite alignment
3Device complexity
If separate scanning of upper and lower jaws is performed, then the scanning process can be simplified, but the combination of partial models results in incomplete and inaccurate oral situation representation
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the separately scanned upper and lower jaw models through an automated alignment process. By combining the digital 3D models and calculating the optimal bite position through multi-parameter transformation, the system creates a complete and accurate representation of the entire oral situation, preserving all necessary spatial relationships and eliminating information loss
Data Source
AI summary
A method for creating a digital 3D model of a patient's dentition, according to the invention, provides that in a computing unit for a plurality of dentition variants, each comprising a combination of a digital 3D model of the upper jaw and a digital 3D model of the lower jaw of the patient, which differ from each other in the relative positioning of the upper and lower jaws, respectively:the digital 3D model of the upper jaw is combined with the digital 3D model of the patient's lower jaw in such a way that the upper and lower jaws rest on each other at a number of contact points without any spatial overlap of parts of the upper and lower jaws, andthe contact surface between the upper and lower jaw is determined, whereby an optimized denture variant is selected as a 3D model of the denture, taking into account the contact surface.