Directional Tooth Gap Measurement Using 3D Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for measuring the positional relationship between two teeth, such as collision value or gap size, are of limited value in clinical medicine as they lack control over the direction of measurement, making them ineffective for orthodontic treatments and denture design.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method that involves obtaining 3D digital models of teeth under different arrangements, determining a specific direction based on mesiodistal directions, projecting unit vectors onto a reference plane, generating a ray group along this direction, and calculating collision or gap values based on intersection points to provide more valuable measurements for clinical applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional methods (K-tree traversal or parting plane search) are used to measure positional relationship between teeth, then the measurement can be performed without directional control, but the clinical value and applicability to orthodontic treatment are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into distinct directional components. The method divides the measurement into: (1) determining the mesiodistal directions of both teeth, (2) calculating the average direction vector, (3) projecting unit vectors onto a reference plane, and (4) measuring along the specific predetermined direction. This segmentation allows directional control while maintaining systematic processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from an unrestricted spatial measurement to a directionally constrained measurement. By introducing a predetermined direction derived from the average mesiodistal directions of the teeth, the measurement transforms from a general positional assessment to a clinically relevant directional measurement that reflects actual orthodontic treatment needs.
2Measurement precision
If conventional collision value measurement is used (longest line segment between overlapping nodes), then the measurement is simple to compute, but it lacks directional control and clinical relevance
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement parameter is changed from an unrestricted longest distance metric to a directionally constrained measurement. The method calculates the distance between tooth surfaces along a predetermined direction (average mesiodistal direction), transforming the measurement from a general spatial metric to a clinically relevant directional metric that reflects actual tooth interaction during function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional gap measurement is used (minimum distance between nodes), then the calculation is straightforward, but it cannot provide directionally controlled measurements needed for orthodontic planning
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into: (1) determining mesiodistal directions of both teeth, (2) calculating average direction, (3) generating ray group along predetermined direction, and (4) measuring gap along this direction. This segmentation enables directional control while maintaining systematic and automated processing suitable for clinical application.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement parameter transforms from an unrestricted minimum distance to a directionally constrained measurement along the average mesiodistal direction. This parameter change provides clinically relevant information for orthodontic treatment planning by reflecting the actual directional relationship between teeth during function.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the present application provides a computer-based method of measuring positional relationship between two teeth, comprising: obtaining a second 3D digital model representing a plurality of teeth under a second tooth arrangement, wherein the plurality of teeth comprise a first tooth and a second tooth; and measuring a value of a collision or a size of a gap between the first tooth and second tooth based on the second 3D digital model and in a predetermined first direction.