Dental Impression CT Scanning for Direct 3D Dentition Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
The prevalent method of acquiring digital models of patients' dentition in dental prostheses manufacturing involves scanning a stone model cast from a physical impression, which is error-prone and inefficient, especially since only 10% of clinicians use intraoral scanners.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a three-way dental impression tray scanned using a CT scanner to generate a 3D volumetric image, directly converting it into a surface image using isosurfaces and density gradients, bypassing the intermediate step of creating a surface image from the impression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stone model cast from a physical impression is scanned to acquire digital models, then digital model data can be obtained for CAD/CAM manufacturing, but the process becomes error-prone and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary intermediate step of creating and scanning a stone model cast from the physical impression. By directly scanning the physical impression itself and converting it to a digital model through isosurface extraction, the method removes the error-prone casting and scanning steps while maintaining the essential function of obtaining accurate digital model data for CAD/CAM manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional approach of creating a positive stone model from a negative impression and then scanning that model, the patent inverts the process by directly scanning the negative physical impression and using isosurface extraction to generate the positive digital model. This reversal eliminates the intermediate casting step and directly produces the required digital model data.
2Loss of information
If the conventional method of scanning a stone model is used, then digital models can be acquired, but unnecessary intermediate steps increase complexity and potential for error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary intermediate steps of stone model casting and conventional scanning from the workflow. By directly scanning the physical impression and applying isosurface extraction algorithms, the method eliminates multiple potential sources of information loss and reduces process complexity while maintaining or improving data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a direct digital copy of the physical impression through scanning and isosurface extraction, bypassing the need for physical stone model copies. This digital copying process reduces the number of physical intermediaries and potential points of information degradation in the workflow.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides accurate and efficient digital models of the patient's dentition suitable for dental restoration design, reducing errors and improving the workflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a three-way dental impression tray scanned using a CT scanner to generate a 3D volumetric image
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for scanning a dental impression to obtain a digital model of a patient's dentition as an input to computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) methods for producing dental prostheses. Systems and methods are provided for scanning a physical impression of a patient's dentition and constructing a virtual surface image of the patient's dentition from the scan data thereby obtained. The virtual surface image of the patient's dentition is constructed using isosurfaces and density gradients of a volumetric image and then directly creating a surface image based upon void spaces that correspond to the patient's dentition.