Artificial Tooth Interface Definition for Optical Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial tooth elements produced using different materials to simulate dentin and enamel often lack satisfactory optical properties, resulting in a visual appearance that does not closely match natural teeth due to differing optical properties of the materials used.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to define an interface inside a digital tooth data model of an artificial tooth element, allowing for the adaptation of the optical properties by adjusting the interface between dentin and enamel materials to mimic the natural tooth's appearance, involving the determination of a three-dimensional outer contour, alignment with a coordinate system, and displacement of tooth surfaces to create a realistic optical appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If artificial tooth elements are manufactured from multiple materials to simulate dentin and enamel, then the structural representation of natural teeth is improved, but the optical appearance does not closely match natural teeth due to differing optical properties of the materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by defining different optical properties for different regions of the artificial tooth element. Specifically, the enamel region is assigned higher translucency and different light scattering characteristics compared to the dentin region, allowing each material region to exhibit its characteristic optical behavior and collectively reproduce the natural tooth's optical appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes optical parameters such as translucency, light scattering coefficient, and absorption characteristics when transitioning between material regions. By adjusting these parameters at the dentin-enamel interface and throughout different tooth regions, the artificial tooth element achieves optical properties that closely match natural teeth despite using different base materials.
2Productivity
If prefabricated teeth are mass-produced, then production efficiency is improved, but the ability to adapt to individual patient anatomy and achieve desired visual appearance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tooth element into distinct material regions (enamel, dentin, pulp chamber) with independently controllable optical properties. This segmentation allows the use of standardized prefabricated tooth forms while enabling customized optical characteristics for each region, thus adapting mass-produced teeth to individual patient requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control over material placement and optical property assignment during the manufacturing process. By allowing flexible adjustment of material boundaries, thicknesses, and optical parameters in the digital model before manufacturing, the system adapts prefabricated teeth to specific patient anatomy and aesthetic requirements while maintaining production efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for defining at least one boundary surface (16) inside an artificial tooth element, the method comprising the steps of: aligning the tooth element (10) with a coordinate system which preferably relates to anatomically defined directional terms; defining a first boundary curve (12) on the tooth surface; determining a tooth surface (14) located incisally/occlusally with respect to the first boundary curve; and moving this tooth surface (14) inwards in the direction of the surface normal by different amounts in order to produce the at least one boundary surface (16), in particular the first boundary surface (16), wherein the different amounts of the movement involve variable design parameters.