3D Dental Appliance Modeling for Margin Spacing and Undercut Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual process of ensuring spacing between the tooth margin and dental appliances, such as splints and nightguards, is time-consuming and labor-intensive, particularly in creating gypsum or stone models.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for generating dental appliances that involves obtaining a 3D digital surface representation of teeth, calculating distances, dilating and eroding the surface to eliminate unwanted features like sharp edges and undercuts, and generating a modified 3D digital surface representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual waxing process is used to create spacing between tooth margin and appliance, then the appliance can be positioned and removed properly, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive (5-10 minutes manual work)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical waxing process with an automated computational algorithm. The system automatically calculates and applies spacing between tooth margins and appliance surfaces through digital modeling, eliminating the need for manual wax application while maintaining the functional requirement for proper positioning and removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital 3D copy of the tooth structure and automatically generates the spacing requirements through computational geometry. Instead of physically waxing each tooth margin, the system replicates the tooth surface digitally and calculates the necessary spacing through algorithmic processing, producing identical functional results with automated precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual waxing is performed on gypsum or stone models, then fissures and interproximal spaces are properly formed, but the process requires significant manual labor and time investment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical waxing with automated computational algorithms that precisely calculate and generate fissures and interproximal spaces through digital 3D modeling. The system processes tooth surface geometry automatically, producing accurate spacing and structural features without manual intervention, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while dramatically improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary computational analysis of the tooth structure before final appliance design. The system预先 calculates the necessary spacing, identifies critical areas such as fissures and interproximal spaces, and prepares the digital model with appropriate dimensions, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual waxing during the design process.
3Productivity
If digital 3D modeling is used to generate dental appliances, then manual labor is reduced and productivity increases, but the process requires complex computational algorithms and processing power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex computational process into discrete, manageable algorithmic steps: obtaining 3D tooth surface data, creating point clouds, calculating shortest distances, generating modified surface representations through dilation and erosion, and producing final appliance models. This segmentation of the computational task reduces the complexity barrier while maintaining high productivity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the design process by changing from manual physical parameters (wax application, manual measurement) to digital computational parameters (3D coordinates, distance calculations, algorithmic processing). This parameter transformation enables automated high-speed design while the computational complexity is managed through standardized algorithms and processing pipelines.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a computer implemented method for generating a dental appliance including obtaining a first 3D digital surface representation of one or more teeth of a patient; creating a number of points in 3D space around the 3D digital surface representation, calculating the shortest distance from each of the points to the 3D digital surface representation; generating a modified 3D digital surface representation by dilating the surface of the object a defined value by using the calculated distances; and generating a resulting 3D digital surface representation of the dental appliance by erosion of the modified 3D digital surface representation inwards.