Dental Aligner Cut Line Generation Using 3D Arch Form Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the cut line for dental aligners struggle to accurately account for interdental spaces, leading to discomfort and inefficiency in orthodontic treatments, as they fail to follow the tooth-gingiva boundary effectively, especially in cases with missing teeth or independent orthodontic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize 3D representation of the arch form to determine a cut line by segmenting individual intersection loops into buccal and lingual portions, joining these portions, and smoothing the resulting arch form loop to create a continuous and smooth edge that follows the tooth-gingiva boundary, even in the presence of interdental spaces, using techniques like 3D printing or laser cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional cut line determination method is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the cut line fails to accurately follow the tooth-gingiva boundary in the presence of interdental spaces, leading to discomfort and reduced treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous cut line determination problem into discrete portions by identifying and processing each tooth-gingiva boundary separately. The system divides the arch form into individual tooth regions, determines the cut line for each tooth independently, and then connects these segments to form the complete cut line, thereby achieving high precision while managing complexity through systematic decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D representations to 3D arch form models to determine the cut line. By utilizing three-dimensional digital models of the patient's arch form, the system can accurately capture the spatial relationships between teeth and gingiva, including interdental spaces, enabling precise cut line determination that follows the natural tooth-gingiva boundary in three-dimensional space
2Ease of operation
If the cut line does not follow the tooth-gingiva boundary, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the aligner becomes uncomfortable to wear and may be ineffective for treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the cut line determination process to automatically adapt to the patient's unique anatomy without requiring manual intervention. The algorithm autonomously identifies the tooth-gingiva boundary, navigates around interdental spaces, and generates the optimal cut line that ensures comfort and treatment effectiveness, making the process self-adjusting to individual patient characteristics
3Productivity
If interdental spaces are not accounted for in cut line determination, then the process is faster, but the resulting aligner may contact the gingiva and cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and characterization of interdental spaces before finalizing the cut line determination. By detecting the presence and location of interdental spaces in advance and incorporating them into the cut line calculation, the system ensures that the final cut line properly navigates around these spaces, preventing gingiva contact while maintaining efficient automated processing
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining a cut line of an aligner are provided. The method comprises: obtaining 3D model data of a plurality of teeth and a gingiva of a subject; obtaining, using the 3D model data, for each one of the plurality of teeth, a respective one of a plurality of intersection loops; translating each one of the plurality of segmentation loops at a predetermined distance from the gingiva to generate a plurality of offset segmentation loops; identifying, within each one of the plurality of offset segmentation loops, a respective buccal portion and a respective lingual portion; sequentially joining respective buccal portions and respective lingual portions associated with each one of the plurality of offset intersection loops, thereby generating a single arch form loop; and applying the single arch form loop to an unfinished aligner to indicate the cut line on the unfinished aligner for producing the aligner.