Intraoral Scanner Digital Impression Workflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dental impression methods are time-consuming, inconvenient for patients, and costly, often requiring multiple office visits for accurate impressions and treatment plan adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for conducting intraoral scans at designated sites using an intraoral scanner, generating three-dimensional data, and producing aligners based on treatment plans approved by dental professionals without physical presence, allowing for remote administration and delivery of aligners to patients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional dental impression methods are used, then detailed impressions of teeth and tissues can be obtained, but the process requires significant time and multiple office visits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical impression-taking methods with optical scanning technology. The intraoral scanner uses optical fields to capture three-dimensional images of teeth and surrounding tissues, eliminating the need for physical impression materials and trays. This substitution dramatically reduces the time required while maintaining or improving measurement precision through digital capture and instant processing of dental anatomy data.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional dental impressions are made in-office, then accurate treatment planning can be achieved, but patient inconvenience and treatment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates digital copies (three-dimensional images) of the patient's teeth and tissues using an intraoral scanner. These digital models replace traditional physical impressions and can be viewed, analyzed, and used for treatment planning without requiring the patient to be present. The digital copies can be shared remotely with dental professionals, enabling accurate treatment planning while significantly improving patient convenience by eliminating the need for multiple in-office visits.
3Reliability
If dental professionals review impressions in person, then treatment plans can be adjusted based on direct observation, but the process requires multiple check-up appointments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces digital three-dimensional imaging as an intermediary between the patient's oral condition and the dental professional's treatment planning. The intraoral scanner captures detailed images that can be transmitted electronically to dental professionals, who can then review and adjust treatment plans remotely. This intermediary enables reliable treatment planning without requiring the dental professional's physical presence, thereby improving productivity by eliminating multiple check-up appointments while maintaining treatment reliability through comprehensive digital documentation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for intraoral scanning include determining, by an appointment management system, a condition that dental impressions have not been received from a user within a threshold time period where the user was provided with an in-home dental impression kit, generating and communicating a message to the user based on the condition where the message prompts the user to schedule an appointment at an intraoral scanning site, receiving a request to schedule an appointment at the intraoral scanning site where the intraoral scanning site has an intraoral scanner configured to conduct an intraoral scan of a mouth of the user, and conducting the intraoral scan using the intraoral scanner at the intraoral scanning site where the intraoral scan generates three-dimensional data of the mouth of the user.