Intraoral 3D Tooth Surface Reconstruction for Prosthesis Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental CAD/CAM technologies face challenges in accurately generating the outer surface of a target tooth for a prosthesis due to void areas between the target tooth and adjacent teeth, which are not scanned, leading to potential misfit and foreign body sensations for patients.

Innovation Solution

An intraoral image processing method and device that automatically generates the outer surface of a target tooth by identifying a virtual margin line between the tooth and gingiva, using 3D intraoral data to fill void areas and create a virtual surface similar to the actual tooth shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a plurality of markers are arranged in a matrix pattern, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition measurement precisionVSAvoidmarker arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The marker system is segmented into a matrix pattern of multiple discrete markers arranged in rows and columns. This segmentation allows the system to achieve higher measurement precision by providing multiple reference points for position calculation, while the regular matrix structure keeps the complexity manageable through systematic organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a regular matrix pattern where markers are copied in a systematic arrangement. This copying approach maintains consistency across the marker set, simplifying the recognition and processing algorithms while providing sufficient markers for precise position measurement through statistical averaging and error reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If image processing is performed to recognize marker positions, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarker position recognition accuracyVSAvoidimage processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The marker pattern is designed with predetermined geometric relationships and known positions in the matrix. This preliminary structuring allows the image processing algorithm to use template matching and geometric constraints to rapidly identify marker positions without requiring complex general-purpose recognition, thus reducing processing time while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the known matrix structure of markers as feedback to guide the image processing. By expecting markers at specific relative positions, the algorithm can efficiently search for and verify marker locations, reducing the computational burden and processing time while achieving accurate position recognition through the structured feedback from the predetermined pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4364692B1Intraoral image processing device and intraoral image processing method
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 MEDIT CORP
  • EP4364692B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4364692B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4364692B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an intraoral image processing method and an intraoral image processing device. In detail, an intraoral image processing method according to an embodiment may include obtaining three-dimensional (3D) intraoral data on an oral cavity including teeth and a gingiva, and generating an outer surface (eggshell)of a target tooth that is a subject of a prosthesis from among the teeth included in the 3D intraoral data, wherein the generating of the outer surface includes automatically generating a portion corresponding to a void area between the target tooth and at least one adjacent tooth adjacent to the target tooth.