Dental Prosthesis Prototype via Digital Photography and Optical Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating anatomical prototypes in dentistry are laborious, time-consuming, and prone to poor reproducibility, often requiring multiple sessions for patients and extensive manual work by dentists, leading to unpredictable outcomes and potential aesthetic or functional mismatches.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of digital photography, optical scanning, and software processing to create a three-dimensional anatomical prototype, which simulates the desired outcome of dental treatments by capturing reference points, analyzing facial symmetry, and generating digital representations of target teeth, followed by 3D printing for rapid and accurate prototype creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual methods are used to create anatomical prototypes, then the dentist can provide a predictive model, but the process requires frequent patient sessions and extensive manual work leading to poor reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical methods with optical and digital systems. Specifically, it uses digital photography to capture facial images, optical scanning to obtain 3D surface data, and computer software to automatically process and generate the anatomical prototype. This substitution eliminates the need for repeated patient impressions and manual model fabrication, thereby improving reproducibility while reducing patient time commitment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates accurate digital copies of the patient's facial features and oral anatomy through photography and scanning. These digital copies are then processed to generate the predictive anatomical prototype. By using digital replication instead of manual copying, the system achieves higher precision and consistency, improving reliability without requiring multiple patient visits.
2Reliability
If traditional manual methods are used to create anatomical prototypes, then the dentist can provide a predictive model, but the process involves laborious manual work activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual fabrication processes with automated digital workflows. Computer software automatically processes the captured images and scan data to generate the predictive anatomical prototype. This automation eliminates laborious manual steps such as hand-molding, sculpting, and adjusting physical models, thereby maintaining high predictive accuracy while dramatically simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the computer software to autonomously perform the complex tasks of processing facial images, analyzing anatomical features, and generating the predictive prototype. The software automatically identifies key facial landmarks, calculates proportions, and constructs the anatomical model without requiring skilled manual intervention, thus improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If digital photography and optical scanning are used, then the process becomes quicker and more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a computer system that performs multiple functions: capturing digital photographs, processing images to identify facial landmarks, acquiring optical scan data, analyzing anatomical parameters, and generating the 3D anatomical prototype. By using a single multi-functional computer platform rather than separate specialized devices for each task, the system achieves high productivity while managing device complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple processes (photography, scanning, image processing, data analysis, and 3D modeling) into a single integrated digital workflow. The computer system merges these functions into one cohesive process, allowing rapid prototype creation. This consolidation improves productivity by eliminating transitions between separate tools while managing complexity through unified software control.
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 method allows for a quick, reliable, and minimally invasive process that reduces patient sessions and manual labor, providing a precise prediction of treatment outcomes and enhancing patient satisfaction by ensuring alignment with expectations, while also facilitating the design of compatible prostheses.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring a first photograph of a face of the subject with a camera
Implementation Method 2
subjecting dental arches of the subject to optical scanning in order to acquire information on dental occlusion and/or on arch anatomy
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for providing an anatomical prototype, which simulates the outcome of a treatment that can be performed on a subject (2), which consists in: a. applying to the face of the subject (2) an instrument (3) provided with at least one pair of reference elements (4) arranged at a known distance; b. installing a retractor (5) in the mouth of the subject (2) and acquiring a first photograph of the face of the subject (2), which illustrates the reference elements (4) and his or her current teeth (6); c. removing the retractor (5) from the mouth of the subject (2) and acquiring a second photograph of the face of the subject (2), in the same pose as the first photograph and illustrating the reference elements (4) and his or her current teeth (6); d. subjecting the dental arches of the subject (2) to optical scanning, in order to acquire information regarding dental occlusion and/or the anatomy of the arches; e. providing at least the photographs to at least one software application adapted to be run on an electronic processing device associated with a respective display, for the visualization of a first digital image and of a second digital image, which can be processed by the application and correspond respectively to the first photograph and to the second photograph; f. calibrating the software application on the basis of the known distance between the reference elements (4), which can be detected in the first image and/or in the second image; g. performing a facial analysis of the second digital image, for the identification of at least one parameter that describes the symmetry and proportions of the face and/or of the current teeth (6); h. tracing on the second digital image the internal profile of the lips, in order to delimit a graphic area of interest, which contains at least partially the current teeth (6); i. creating a digital representation of target teeth (7), which can be obtained as an outcome of the treatment to be performed on the subject (2) as a replacement of the current teeth (6); j. visualizing the external contour of the target teeth (7), in order to verify the position and size of the target teeth (7) with respect to the current teeth (6) of the subject (2); k. replacing the graphical area of interest of the second digital image with the corresponding portion of the digital representation of the target teeth (7), on the basis of the at least one parameter identified in the step g.; l. providing a three-dimensional prototype (100) of at least one portion of the target teeth (7), on the basis of the digital representation of the target teeth (7) and of the information obtained in said step d..