Dental Post and Core Design via 3D Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CAD/CAM procedures for designing and manufacturing dental post and core restorations face challenges in accurately capturing the irregular structure of tooth root canals, leading to inefficiencies and errors due to the difficulty in scanning narrow or non-regular cavities.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that involves scanning dental impressions to create a three-dimensional positive working model of the tooth and bore, allowing for the design of a post and core that matches the bore's structure, which can be manufactured using CAD/CAM technologies such as milling, 3D printing, or 3D laser sintering, potentially eliminating the need for physical gypsum models and reducing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional CAD/CAM procedures are used to scan tooth root canals, then the manufacturing process can be automated, but the scanning accuracy deteriorates due to the narrow and irregular structure of root canals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary material (impression material such as polyvinyl siloxane) that fills the root canal to create an accessible external impression. This intermediary captures the internal canal geometry and transforms it into an external form that can be accurately scanned by CAD/CAM systems, thereby enabling automation without sacrificing measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If manual impression taking is used to capture root canal anatomy, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming manual procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy (impression) of the root canal internal geometry using impression material. This copy is then scanned digitally to create a 3D model. The copying process preserves the anatomical accuracy while enabling digital workflow, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly improving productivity through automated scanning and design.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom posts are manufactured to match irregular bore structures, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to non-standard designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the complex irregular geometry of the root canal into a standardized digital 3D model through systematic parameter capture using impression material. The impression process converts complex internal geometry into external surface parameters that can be easily scanned and modeled, thereby achieving high manufacturing precision while reducing design complexity through digital standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a computer-implemented method of designing and/or manufacturing a post and core to match a bore of a tooth, said method including the steps of: a) obtaining at least one impression of a set of teeth comprising a bore; b) scanning the impression of the set of teeth comprising the bore; c) providing a three-dimensional scan representation of the impression comprising the bore; d) transforming the three-dimensional scan representation to a three-dimensional positive working model of the set of teeth and the bore; and e) designing a post and core model from the positive working model of the bore. In particular, CAD/CAM design and/or manufacture of post and core.