Digital Tooth Models With Interproximal Space Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital scans of teeth fail to accurately depict small interproximal spaces between adjacent teeth, leading to inaccurate 3D virtual models where these spaces are often filled in or underestimated, complicating orthodontic treatments.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing scannable objects of varying thicknesses to measure and digitally capture interproximal spaces, followed by a segmentation process that maintains these spaces in the digital model, ensuring accurate representation of tooth contours and spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional digital scanning methods are used to capture teeth, then the scanning process is simple and fast, but the interproximal spaces between adjacent teeth are not accurately depicted and are filled in or underestimated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the dental model into individual tooth segments. The system identifies interproximal spaces and separates adjacent teeth digitally, allowing each tooth to be independently represented with accurate spacing. This segmentation process transforms a continuous scanned surface into discrete tooth models with properly defined gaps between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary computational process between scanning and final model creation. The system introduces a segmentation algorithm that acts as a mediator, taking the raw scanned data and transforming it into an accurate digital representation by identifying and preserving interproximal spaces that would otherwise be lost in conventional scanning.
2Productivity
If conventional scanning methods are used, then the process is straightforward, but the resulting 3D models require more treatment stages due to inaccurate tooth alignment data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing accurate segmentation and interproximal space identification before the orthodontic treatment planning begins. The system pre-processes the scanned data to create an accurate baseline model with correct tooth positions and spacing, which enables more efficient treatment planning and reduces the number of adjustment stages needed during treatment.
3Measurement precision
If detailed segmentation is performed to capture interproximal spaces, then measurement accuracy improves, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical measurement methods with an automated computational segmentation system. The algorithm automatically identifies interproximal spaces, separates tooth contours, and generates accurate 3D models without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while significantly reducing processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Creating a digital tooth model of a patient's tooth using interproximal information is provided. Interproximal information is received that represents a space between adjacent physical teeth of the patient. A digital teeth model of a set of physical teeth of the patient that includes the adjacent physical teeth is received. One or more digital tooth models is created that more accurately depicts one or more of the physical teeth than the corresponding digital teeth included in the digital teeth model based on the interproximal information.