3D Teeth-Facial Skeleton Spatial Alignment via Digital Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for determining the spatial relationship between the upper teeth and facial skeleton in dentistry are complex, expensive, and prone to errors, making them less commonly used in general dentistry despite their importance for ensuring proper alignment and function of dental prosthetics.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using 3D models of the upper teeth and facial skeleton, where 2D images of the patient's face are processed to determine the optimal alignment between the 3D teeth model and facial skeleton, employing techniques such as non-linear optimization, mutual information scoring, and optical flow to achieve accurate spatial alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional facebow or earbow is used to capture the relationship between upper teeth and skull, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical facebow system with a digital imaging system. Instead of using physical facebow apparatus to mechanically transfer spatial relationships to a dental articulator, the invention uses 2D facial images captured by a camera and processed through computer vision algorithms to directly determine the spatial relationship between upper teeth and skull in 3D space, eliminating complex mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the facial features from 2D images and a digital model of the upper teeth, then aligns these digital copies in 3D space through optimization algorithms. This digital copying and alignment process replaces the physical copying function of the traditional facebow, achieving the same measurement goal without mechanical complexity
2Measurement precision
If traditional facebow is used to determine spatial relationship, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical facebow operation with an automated digital image processing system. The computer vision algorithms automatically capture 2D facial images, generate facial models, and compute the spatial relationship without requiring manual manipulation of complex facebow apparatus by the operator
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-alignment and self-calibration through the optimization process. The algorithm automatically adjusts the alignment between the 2D facial images and the 3D teeth model to maximize feature correspondence, eliminating the need for manual calibration and adjustment that traditional facebows require
3Measurement precision
If traditional facebow is used to capture spatial relationship, then measurement accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical facebow equipment with standard digital imaging devices and software. The system uses ordinary cameras to capture facial images and processes them through computer vision algorithms, eliminating the need for costly specialized facebow apparatus while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable or readily available digital images instead of expensive reusable facebow apparatus. The 2D facial images can be captured by standard cameras and processed once to determine the spatial relationship, replacing the need for expensive physical equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a 3D model representative of upper teeth (U1) of a patient (P) and receiving a plurality of images of a face of the patient (P). The method also includes generating a facial model (200) of the patient based on the received plurality of images and determining, based on the determined facial model (200), the received 3D model of 10 the upper teeth (U1) and the plurality of images, a spatial relationship between the upper teeth (U1) of the patient (P) and a facial skeleton of the patient (P).