Optical scan data including a first set of images representing a first portion of a three-dimensional object is received. A processing device receives ultrasound scan data including a second set of three-dimensional images representing a second portion of the three-dimensional object. The processing device performs image stitching between the second set of three-dimensional images using the optical scan data. The processing device then creates a virtual model of the three-dimensional object based on the stitched second set of three-dimensional images.

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a diagnostic probe is configured for performing diagnostic measurements and/or therapeutic interventions and for measuring the local surface profile of a local surface region an object. Various example embodiments are described in which the surface profile of the local surface region, when compared to the surface profile of an extended surface region, is employed to provide guidance for positioning and/or orienting the probe when performing a diagnostic measurement. The surface profile within the local surface region may be employed to generate feedback for repeating a previous diagnostic measurement, such that the repeat measurement is performed at the previous location on the object. In other embodiments, surface profile detection is employed to control the positional and/or orientational probe alignment during an iterative tissue removal method in which successive tissue layers are removed when the presence of a pathology is confirmed via a diagnostic measurement.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method includes the steps of: providing the virtual articulator including a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth; providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur; wherein the method further includes: providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method includes the steps of: providing the virtual articulator including a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth; providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur; wherein the method further includes: providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

Various systems and methods for imaging soft oral tissue via an ultrasound oral imaging instrument are disclosed. The ultrasound oral imaging instrument can be coupled to an ultrasound probe that includes an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasound pulses. The instrument can include an actuator couplable to the ultrasound probe. The actuator can move the ultrasound probe as the as the ultrasound probe emits ultrasound pulses to image tissue against which the ultrasound probe is directed. The instrument can be utilized to image soft oral tissue by applying an acoustic coupler to the soft oral tissue to be imaged or the ultrasound probe, moving the ultrasound probe along the soft oral tissue to captured two-dimensional slices or images of the tissue, and then reconstructing three-dimensional images from the two-dimensional slices.

A method for imaging a tooth surface, the method executed at least in part on a computer, directs an excitation signal toward the tooth from a scan head and obtains a depth-resolved response signal emanating from the tooth, wherein the response signal encodes tooth surface structure information. Liquid and tooth surfaces are segmented from the depth-resolved response signal. The tooth surface structure information is adjusted based on the segmented liquid. A 3D image of the tooth is reconstructed according to the depth-resolved response signal and the adjusted tooth surface structure information. The 3D image content is displayed, stored, or transmitted.

A device for 3-D imaging of the oral cavity for purposes of implant positioning, and in particular, a dental ultrasound scanner connected to a registration device that provides coordinates for realigning ultrasound images. The ultrasound scanner includes transducers having frequencies of 18 megahertz or higher and wavelengths of 80 microns or less. The reference device may be used as a surgical guide or a separate surgical guide may be created.

A method and system for designing a dental appliance for an individual. A 3D model of the individual's features including a portion of their face and arches is displayed on a 3D display. The 3D model includes an augmented reality dental appliance. The 3D model can be manipulated by inputs detected by a motion sensor, a brain-computer interface, both, or other sensors. In response to gestures neural activity, or other inputs, the augmented reality dental appliance or other aspects of the 3D model are modified. The 3D model is updated in response to the modified dental appliance or other changes, and repositioned to provide an updated 3D model. The updated 3D model is displayed on the 3D display. This system and method facilitates modification of the augmented reality dental appliance and observation of the resulting aesthetic effects.

An imaging system may include: a probe head including a light source for emitting light in at least one spectral waveband suitable to generate a photoacoustic response in tissue, and an ultrasound transducer having a transmit mode for transmitting ultrasound energy into the tissue and a receive mode for receiving the ultrasound energy reflected by the tissue and photoacoustic energy from the tissue; and a programmable system configured to actuate the light source and to actuate the ultrasound transducer between the transmit mode and the receive mode in response to a timing signal.

A dental imaging system for imaging a mouth in real time during a dental procedure includes a signal generator that selectively transmits one or more signals into the mouth and a signal receiver for receiving the transmitted signals. The dental imaging system includes a computing system in data communication with the signal generator and in data communication with the signal receiver so as to receive signal data from the signal receiver, the computing system being configured to process the received signal data to generate a 3-dimensional model (3D model), the 3D model having a 3D model visualization component. A display screen is in data communication with the computing system that is configured to display the 3D visualization component of the 3D model. The signal transceivers and display screen may be mounted to a glove worn by the dentist.