Lip Trace Feature for Orthodontic Smile Line Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthodontic treatment planning methods fail to effectively design a patient's smile line, lacking in providing proper smile aesthetics during treatment.
Innovation Solution
A lip trace feature in a computer workstation allows users to cut out the area inside the lips from a facial photograph, overlaying a 3D model of the teeth to visualize needed intrusion or extrusion for smile line design, using a 3D model of the patient's teeth combined with their 2D facial photograph.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional orthodontic treatment planning methods are used, then treatment can be planned, but the ability to design and visualize smile line aesthetics is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent overlays a 2D facial photograph with a 3D digital model of teeth and gums, creating a multi-dimensional visualization that combines external facial aesthetics with internal dental structure. This allows clinicians to assess smile line aesthetics by viewing tooth positions relative to the facial photograph, effectively adding a dimensional context that bridges external appearance and internal anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital overlay as an intermediary between the facial photograph and the actual tooth positions. This digital representation acts as a mediator that can be manipulated independently - teeth can be moved, rotated, or resized in the digital model while maintaining alignment with the fixed facial photograph, allowing precise aesthetic planning without altering the original clinical images.
2Measurement precision
If 3D models and facial photographs are overlaid for smile design, then visualization precision improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the visualization into distinct separable components: the facial photograph remains as a fixed background layer, while the 3D digital model of teeth and gums is segmented into individual tooth elements that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows complex aesthetic adjustments to be made through simple, isolated operations on individual teeth rather than requiring complex whole-mouth transformations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the patient's teeth and gums that can be manipulated independently from the actual anatomy. This digital model serves as a virtual replica that can be overlaid on the facial photograph, allowing clinicians to experiment with different tooth positions and smile designs without affecting or complicating the original clinical data or requiring complex physical models.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses orthodontic treatment planning which enables designing the desired smile line with the help of a computer workstation.A new lip trace feature enables cutting out the portion of a photograph corresponding to the area inside the lips. The 3D model of the teeth is then completely visible when overlaid with the facial photograph.One can use this feature to superimpose the patient photo over the 3-D model of the teeth to see how much intrusion or extrusion is needed to design the smile line.Three dimensional model of dentition obtained by scanning of teeth along with the patient's two dimensional facial photograph is used to design the desired smile line for the patient by means of software instructions in the workstation.