Intraoral Scanner Digital Model Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental restoration techniques in dentistry are hindered by the inability to capture high-quality digital three-dimensional data of teeth and surrounding soft tissue, leading to errors in the manufacturing process and a substantial burden on dentists for physical matching and material handling.
Innovation Solution
A scanning system and method for acquiring three-dimensional representations of intraoral structures using an intraoral scanner, allowing for the transmission and fabrication of dental restorations, including implants, teeth, and soft tissue, to a dental fabrication facility, enabling quality control and design within a dentist's office or laboratory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional lost wax method is used for manufacturing dental restorations, then manufacturing process is established, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to errors in casting process and material handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital scanning to create a precise digital copy of the patient's teeth and oral structures. This digital model serves as an accurate replica that can be stored, transmitted, and used for fabrication without the errors inherent in physical casts and wax patterns. The digital copy eliminates the need for physical material handling in intermediate steps, thereby improving manufacturing precision and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical process of taking physical impressions, creating wax patterns, and casting metal with a digital system. An intraoral scanner captures three-dimensional data electronically, eliminating the mechanical steps of mold making and casting. This substitution of mechanical processes with digital data capture and processing significantly reduces errors and improves precision.
2Measurement precision
If physical cast models are used for dental restorations, then manufacturing can proceed, but measurement precision deteriorates due to errors in casting and material handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the patient's oral structures through scanning, which provides exact dimensional data without the errors of physical casting. The digital model preserves precise geometric information that can be measured and used for fabrication with high accuracy, eliminating the dimensional errors introduced during physical material handling and casting processes.
3Manufacturing precision
If digital scanning is implemented, then manufacturing precision improves through accurate digital models, but device complexity increases due to scanning systems and digital processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a digital scanning system that serves multiple functions: capturing three-dimensional data, creating digital models, enabling virtual try-ins, and facilitating remote transmission to laboratories. By consolidating these functions into a single digital workflow, the system manages complexity through multi-functionality rather than requiring separate devices for each task.
4Productivity
If traditional physical matching by dentists is required, then restoration fabrication can occur, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming manual matching and material handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital copies of the patient's teeth and oral structures that can be instantly viewed, measured, and manipulated on computers. This eliminates the need for dentists to physically handle and match restorations against physical casts or wax models. The digital models can be transmitted electronically to laboratories for direct fabrication, significantly reducing the time required for matching and material handling while improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist's office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.