Digital Dental Model Data Acquisition for Plaster-Free Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing dental manufacturing processes are cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly due to the use of plaster study casts, which are difficult to handle and control, and require manual fitting operations to ensure accuracy for dental restorations.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for obtaining data for manufacturing dental components and physical models using digital dental models with controlled scanning resolutions, eliminating the need for plaster casts by generating data records for both the dental component and physical model from a single digital source, allowing for high-accuracy CAM production and fitting on a physical dental model.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If plaster study casts are used for manufacturing dental components, then accuracy between the dental component and preparation can be ensured, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccuracyVSAvoidprocess efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses optical scanning to create a digital copy of the preparation model, replacing the traditional plaster study cast. The scanner captures the geometry of the preparation model and stores it as digital data, which can then be used for manufacturing the dental component with high accuracy without the need for physical plaster casts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical plaster casting process with an optical scanning system. Instead of pouring plaster into molds and manually creating study casts, the system uses optical sensors to capture the preparation model's geometry and converts it into digital data, eliminating the cumbersome mechanical casting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If high scanning resolution is applied to the entire physical impression, then complete geometric detail is captured, but data processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric detailVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different scanning resolutions to different regions of the physical impression based on their importance. High scanning resolution is applied only to the preparation model which requires precise geometric detail, while lower resolution is applied to other portions of the impression. This selective approach captures necessary geometric detail while reducing overall data processing time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3085330B1Method and apparatus for obtaining data for a dental component and a physical dental model
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 NOBEL BIOCARE SERVICES AG
  • EP3085330B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3085330B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3085330B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A method for obtaining data for manufacturing a dental component and a physical dental model (60, 61, 62) of at least a part of a dental structure is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a first data record for manufacturing the dental component, the first data record comprising information based on a portion of a digital dental model (50, 51, 52). Also, the method comprises obtaining a second data record for manufacturing the physical dental model (60, 61, 62), the second data record comprising information based on at least the portion of the digital dental model (50, 51, 52). Furthermore, a computer program product for executing the method and a system for manufacturing the dental component and the physical model are disclosed.