Dental 3D Data Comparison for Crown-Referenced Gum Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental checkup systems struggle to accurately compare soft tissue conditions over time due to individual color variations and lack of temporal analysis, making it difficult to assess changes in oral cavity health.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system and apparatus that utilizes a three-dimensional scanner to capture oral cavity data, processes three-dimensional data to compare soft tissue conditions over time, and uses a crown portion of teeth as a reference to accurately detect changes in gum health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color comparison with pre-determined color chart is used, then gingivitis condition can be determined, but individual color differences cause inaccurate assessment of soft tissue health
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing three-dimensional data of the oral cavity at multiple time points before comparison. By establishing a baseline dataset with crown portions and surrounding soft tissue from previous examinations, the system enables accurate temporal comparison that accounts for individual color characteristics while monitoring changes in soft tissue condition.
2Productivity
If universal dental checkup is introduced annually, then dental health monitoring frequency increases, but lack of temporal comparison capability prevents accurate detection of soft tissue changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by automatically comparing three-dimensional data from current examinations with historical data stored in the database. The comparison algorithm analyzes changes in soft tissue relative to the crown portion, providing quantitative feedback on temporal changes in gingival health, inflammation levels, and other soft tissue conditions across multiple annual checkups.
Solution Approach 2:
The crown portion of teeth serves as an intermediary reference object that remains relatively stable over time. By using the crown portion as a fixed reference point, the system mediates the comparison between soft tissue at different time points, enabling accurate detection of soft tissue changes while accounting for variations in imaging conditions and individual anatomical differences.
3Measurement precision
If three-dimensional data comparison is performed, then soft tissue changes can be detected, but alignment and matching of data from different time points becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy or model of the oral cavity structure from three-dimensional scan data, representing the crown portion and surrounding soft tissue as processable digital objects. This digital representation enables automated alignment and comparison algorithms to match corresponding anatomical features across different time points, significantly reducing the complexity of manual data alignment while maintaining high measurement precision.
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(E)
AI summary
A data processing apparatus (1) includes an input interface (14) to which first three-dimensional data and second three-dimensional data indicating objects acquired at timings different from each other for a same person are input, and a calculation apparatus (11) that compares pieces of soft tissue of at least one tooth between the first three-dimensional data and the second three-dimensional data using a shape of a crown portion of the at least one tooth included in the objects as a reference and outputs comparison information regarding a comparison result.