Sub-Gingival Tooth Surface Scanning Through Transparent Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of generating intraoral scans for sub-gingival surfaces in dental restorations is lengthy, painful for patients, and often results in inaccurate models due to gum retraction and manual manipulation, leading to increased costs and time in dental prosthetic production.
Innovation Solution
A method using an at least partially transparent material to separate the gingiva from the sub-gingival surface during scanning, allowing for accurate differentiation of optical scan data to generate a three-dimensional model that includes the sub-gingival surface, adjusting for refraction angles to improve scan accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If retraction cord is packed under gums to expose margin line, then sub-gingival surface becomes accessible for scanning, but patient experiences pain and gum damage
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the gingiva and the tooth surface. This material allows optical signals to pass through while maintaining separation, enabling scanning of sub-gingival surfaces without direct mechanical retraction of the gums, thereby eliminating patient pain and gum damage associated with traditional cord packing methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical retraction cord system with an optical-based scanning approach through transparent material. Instead of mechanically forcing gums aside with a cord, the system uses optical signals that can penetrate the transparent material to capture images of the sub-gingival margin line, substituting mechanical intrusion with non-contact optical measurement
2Measurement precision
If retraction cord is packed and withdrawn briefly, then margin line is exposed for scanning, but scanning must be completed within narrow time window before gingiva collapses
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent material serves as a permanent intermediary that maintains continuous separation between the gingiva and tooth surface throughout the scanning process. This eliminates the need for brief, time-critical exposure windows, allowing the scanner to capture images at any time while the material remains in place, thereby extending the available time window indefinitely
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent material is placed in advance and maintains continuous separation throughout the scanning procedure. This preliminary action of positioning the material before scanning eliminates the need for last-minute gum retraction and withdrawal timing, allowing the scanner to operate at its own pace without time pressure
3Manufacturing precision
If manual manipulation of virtual 3D model is performed to correct margin line, then model accuracy may be improved, but time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation of physical models or virtual models with an automated optical scanning system. The intraoral scanner automatically captures images through the transparent material and generates the 3D model with accurate margin line definition, eliminating the need for experienced technicians to manually resculpt or correct the model, thereby reducing both time and labor costs
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning system automatically captures the sub-gingival margin line through the transparent material without requiring subsequent manual intervention. The system self-corrects for the presence of the material through algorithmic processing, generating an accurate 3D model directly from the raw scan data, thereby eliminating the need for time-consuming manual model manipulation
4Measurement precision
If optical scan is taken through transparent material, then sub-gingival surface can be captured, but refraction angles cause distortion in scan data
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect the presence of the transparent material and its optical properties during scanning. By measuring the refraction effects in real-time and feeding this information back into the image processing algorithm, the system can mathematically correct the distorted images to accurately represent the true geometry of the sub-gingival margin line
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes to the optical scanning process by adjusting for the refractive index of the transparent material. The system modifies the optical path calculations and image reconstruction parameters to compensate for refraction, transforming the distorted scan data into accurate geometric representations of the sub-gingival surface
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy and completeness of intraoral scans, reducing patient discomfort and time, while improving the design and production of dental prosthetics by accurately capturing sub-gingival features.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting for refraction angles to improve scan accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an optical probe with a sensing face. The optical probe to emit optical signals and receive reflected optical signals. The system includes a computing device, coupled to the optical probe, to receive intraoral scan data of a tooth. The intraoral scan data includes first optical scan data and second optical scan data. The computing device to process the received intraoral scan data to adjust the first optical scan data associated with a sub-gingival surface of the tooth based on the second optical scan data associated with a material covering the sub-gingival surface of the tooth. The computing device to generate a three-dimensional model that includes the sub-gingival surface of the tooth using the adjusted first optical scan data that is associated with the sub-gingival surface of the tooth.