3D Tooth Model Mirroring With Local Coordinate Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Adjusting the arrangement of multiple three-dimensional digital tooth models for dental restorations is challenging and labor-intensive, particularly when the models do not exhibit exact global symmetry, requiring manual adjustments that are inefficient and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that calculates and applies adjustments to three-dimensional digital tooth models using local coordinate systems, allowing for transformations, deformations, and mappings between tooth models with non-symmetric arrangements, ensuring adjustments are relative to the paired tooth model's local coordinate system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment methods are used for non-symmetric tooth models, then flexibility to handle complex cases is improved, but work intensity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility to handle non-symmetric casesVSAvoidwork efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of symmetry from exact global symmetry to approximate local symmetry. By allowing tooth models to be symmetric only in their local coordinate systems rather than requiring exact global symmetry, the system achieves flexibility for complex non-symmetric cases while maintaining symmetry where applicable, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the tooth arrangement into individual tooth models, each with its own local coordinate system. This segmentation allows each tooth to be adjusted independently in its local frame while maintaining overall symmetry, enabling efficient handling of non-symmetric cases without manual intervention for each tooth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If exact global symmetry is required for tooth models, then symmetry maintenance is improved, but adaptability to handle non-symmetric arrangements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymmetry maintenanceVSAvoidhandling of non-symmetric arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system intentionally introduces asymmetry at the global level by allowing tooth models to have different positions and orientations in the dental arch. Each tooth model maintains symmetry only in its local coordinate system, not globally. This resolves the contradiction by accepting global asymmetry to achieve local symmetry, enabling both symmetry maintenance and adaptability to non-symmetric arrangements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Manufacturing precision

If local coordinate systems are used for adjustments, then precision of geometric transformations is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment accuracyVSAvoidcoordinate system management

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by assigning each tooth model its own local coordinate system tailored to its specific orientation and position in the dental arch. This allows precise geometric transformations for each tooth in its local frame while the overall system manages complexity through automated coordinate system assignment and transformation, achieving high adjustment accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250384642A1Relative mirroring for simultaneous adjustment of multiple tooth models

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 EXOCAD

AI summary

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for adjusting an arrangement of a plurality of three-dimensional digital tooth models for a dental restoration. The method comprises selecting at least one of the three-dimensional digital tooth models, which is paired with a corresponding three-dimensional digital tooth model. A first calculation of a first adjustment of a geometric form of the selected tooth model is performed based on the second input defining a modification. The first adjustment is applied to the selected tooth model. A second calculation of a mapped adjustment of the geometric form of the paired corresponding tooth model is performed based on the second input or the first calculation. The mapped adjustment is based on a replica of the first adjustment adjusted relative to a local coordinate system of the paired corresponding tooth model and applied to the paired corresponding tooth model. The resulting adjusted three-dimensional digital denture model is provided for manufacturing.