Intraoral Tooth Image Alignment for Bracket-Free Progress Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthodontic treatments require lengthy monitoring to track tooth movement, making it difficult for dentists to quickly and accurately assess orthodontic progress due to the presence of orthodontic devices like brackets on teeth.

Innovation Solution

An intraoral image processing method that segments teeth from images with and without orthodontic devices, allowing for the adjustment of tooth positions based on numbered tooth models to provide clear, device-free visualizations of tooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If orthodontic devices are attached to teeth for treatment, then tooth correction can be performed, but the devices obstruct clear visualization and accurate detection of tooth movement and position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy of tooth positionVSAvoidobstruction by orthodontic devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the tooth model by segmenting the intraoral image to separate teeth from orthodontic devices. This digital replica allows measurement and visualization of tooth position without the physical obstruction of brackets and wires, enabling accurate detection while maintaining the orthodontic treatment apparatus in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the intraoral image to separate individual teeth from the orthodontic devices attached to them. By dividing the complex scene into distinct components (teeth, brackets, wires), the system can isolate and analyze tooth position independently from the obstructive treatment apparatus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If dentists periodically examine teeth during orthodontic treatment to monitor progress, then accurate detection of tooth movement can be achieved, but the process requires significant time and multiple visits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorthodontic progress detection accuracyVSAvoidtreatment monitoring time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physical tooth examination with automated image processing and computer vision algorithms. The system automatically segments teeth, removes orthodontic device obstructions, and measures tooth position changes from intraoral images, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual clinical examinations while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the orthodontic monitoring system to perform self-assessment by automatically analyzing intraoral images to detect tooth movement and treatment progress. The automated system independently completes tasks that previously required dentist intervention, reducing the frequency and time of professional visits while maintaining accurate progress detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12499546B2Apparatus and method using different scanned and processed intraoral images to identify and adjust teeth by comparing tooth numbers

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 MEDIT CORP

AI summary

Provided are an intraoral image processing apparatus and an intraoral image processing method. The intraoral image processing method includes obtaining a first intraoral image generated by scanning teeth and a second intraoral image generated by scanning the teeth with an orthodontic device attached thereto, segmenting teeth of the first intraoral image, obtaining a teeth image with the orthodontic device removed therefrom by replacing teeth with the orthodontic device attached thereto included in the second intraoral image with segmented teeth of the first intraoral image, and adjusting teeth of the teeth image by using numbers of teeth.