Predicted Tooth Shape Modeling for Un-Erupted Aligner Cavities

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional orthodontic aligners struggle to accurately predict and accommodate the shape of un-erupted or partially erupted teeth, leading to potential interference with tooth eruption and discomfort, as they often use generic tooth shapes that do not resemble the natural shape of the erupting teeth.

Innovation Solution

The use of 3D descriptors and automated agents to identify representative tooth shapes based on anatomical identifiers, allowing for the creation of virtual 3D tooth models and the design of orthodontic appliances with cavities that match the anticipated shape and size of un-erupted teeth, using techniques such as Elliptic Fourier Descriptors and spherical harmonics to ensure a natural and comfortable fit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional generic tooth shapes are used in orthodontic aligners, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the manufacturing precision and reliability of tooth accommodation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of the un-erupted tooth shape using 3D descriptors and automated agents before manufacturing the orthodontic aligner. This allows the cavity to be pre-shaped to match the anticipated tooth geometry, resolving the contradiction by enabling precise customization without adding significant manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the tooth shape representation from generic standardized forms to specific 3D descriptors that capture the unique geometry of individual un-erupted teeth. By transforming the shape parameters based on predictive modeling, the system achieves high manufacturing precision while maintaining compatibility with existing manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If conventional generic tooth shapes are used in orthodontic aligners, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of tooth eruption accommodation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of the un-erupted tooth shape using 3D descriptors and automated agents before manufacturing the orthodontic aligner. This allows the cavity to be pre-shaped to match the anticipated tooth geometry, resolving the contradiction by enabling precise customization without adding significant manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical approach of using generic tooth forms with a computational modeling system that uses 3D descriptors, automated agents, and mathematical predictions. This substitution of mechanical generalization with computational personalization enables high reliability in tooth accommodation while keeping the physical device relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If conventional generic tooth shapes are used in orthodontic aligners, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to interference with tooth eruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameters of the tooth shape representation from generic standardized forms to specific 3D descriptors that capture the unique geometry of individual un-erupted teeth. By transforming the shape parameters based on predictive modeling, the system achieves high manufacturing precision while maintaining compatibility with existing manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical approach of using generic tooth forms with a computational modeling system that uses 3D descriptors, automated agents, and mathematical predictions. This substitution of mechanical generalization with computational personalization enables high reliability in tooth accommodation while keeping the physical device relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12099342B2Predicting shapes of at least partially un-erupted teeth

Publication Date: 2024.09.24 ALIGN TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Computer readable media for predicting a tooth shape for at least partially un-erupted teeth and dental appliances formed therefrom. In some examples, methods include generating orthoscopic views of virtual representations of an identified tooth type in different orthogonal directions, representing bounding shapes around the orthoscopic views, and applying principal component analysis on the bounding shapes to predict a tooth shape. In some examples, methods include generating a spherical harmonic signature for virtual representations of an identified tooth type, calculating a distance between spherical harmonic signatures to predict the tooth shape. The predicted tooth shape of the at least partially un-erupted tooth may be incorporated into virtual dentition model(s) of a dentition in accordance with an orthodontic treatment plan for treating the dentition.