3D Dental Preparation Surface Analysis for Prosthesis Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental prosthesis preparation methods often require additional appointments to correct fit issues, leading to costly and time-consuming adjustments, and may result in unnecessary removal of healthy tissue due to inadequate assessment of available space and manufacturing constraints.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method for evaluating a dental preparation surface using intraoral scanning to create a 3D digital model, analyzing attainable thickness, and comparing it to minimum thickness requirements, allowing adjustments to be made in a single session to ensure a proper fit without excessive tissue removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dental practitioner removes more material from the prosthesis site to ensure proper fit, then the likelihood of prosthesis fitting is improved, but healthy tissue is unnecessarily removed and the prosthesis site is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprosthesis fitVSAvoidhealthy tissue removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of the preparation surface using intraoral scanning and 3D digital modeling before prosthesis manufacturing. This allows the practitioner to assess available space and predict fit issues in advance, eliminating the need to remove excessive material as a precautionary measure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate feedback through digital 3D models showing the prepared surface geometry, attainable thickness, and predicted prosthesis fit. This real-time information allows practitioners to adjust the preparation surface before finalizing, ensuring adequate material remains while guaranteeing proper fit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If another appointment is scheduled to redo the preparation when a prosthesis does not fit, then the prosthesis fit can be corrected, but time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprosthesis fitVSAvoidappointment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of the preparation surface using intraoral scanning and 3D digital modeling before prosthesis manufacturing. This allows the practitioner to assess available space and predict fit issues in advance, eliminating the need for additional appointments to correct fit problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate feedback through digital 3D models showing the prepared surface geometry, attainable thickness, and predicted prosthesis fit. This real-time information allows practitioners to adjust the preparation surface before finalizing, ensuring proper fit without requiring return visits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the opposing tooth or manufactured dental prosthesis is ground down to resolve fit issues, then the fit problem is solved, but this is a suboptimal solution requiring additional material removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprosthesis fitVSAvoidtooth material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system evaluates the preparation surface and surrounding dentition in advance using 3D digital modeling, identifying potential fit issues before prosthesis manufacturing. This prevents the need for corrective grinding of opposing teeth or the prosthesis itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback on the prepared surface geometry and predicts prosthesis fit outcomes. This allows practitioners to optimize the preparation surface in the initial appointment, eliminating the need for subsequent material removal from opposing structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Loss of information

If a digital 3D representation is obtained by digitally scanning a physical impression or cast model, then the digital representation can be used for prosthesis design, but the process requires multiple steps and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoral situation dataVSAvoidscanning and modeling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical process of taking physical impressions and creating cast models with direct intraoral digital scanning. This optical/digital approach captures the oral situation directly in 3D format, eliminating intermediate steps and reducing time while preserving all necessary geometric information.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4138724B1Method for evaluating a dental preparation surface
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 3SHAPE AS
  • EP4138724B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4138724B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4138724B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Disclosed is a method and system of evaluating a dental preparation surface, comprising obtaining a digital oral situation and/or a portion thereof comprising a preparation surface, evaluating an attainable thickness based on the preparation surface and surroundings and comparing the attainable thickness to minimum thickness.