The invention relates to an intraoral scanning device for digitally recording the position of a dental implant by means of a scanner. The device is in the form of a scanning body or pillar used to transfer virtually to CAD software the position and orientation of a dental implant or similar element, mainly by mounting the scanning body or pillar directly on the dental implant located in the mouth of the patient in a clinic and scanning the implant with an intraoral scanner. It is also possible to use the intraoral scanning pillar system in a laboratory and with a conventional desktop scanner.

The invention relates to a dual fixation system for dental implant prosthesis consisting of: an intermediate abutment assembly for fixation on the implant, clip fixation device, fixation screw and cylinder that allows the prosthesis to be screwed or retained by clip as appropriate, individually or independently for each implant.

This system facilitates both the immediate loading technique and the execution of the definitive prosthesis made on an intermediate abutment, since retention by clip is very advantageous in the case of implants with unfavorable emergencies, joining them to the structure as abutments and without compromising the esthetics of the case.

A system and method for fabricating dental crowns and bridgework includes the steps of: selecting one or more model teeth; forming a mold around the model tooth using a soft flexible material; removing the model tooth from the mold; adding wet dental restoration material to the mold and vibrating the mold; pressing framework into the wet restoration material; vibrating the mold and removing moisture; allowing the restoration material to dry and removing the molded crown or bridgework from the mold; trimming off excess restoration material and adding restoration material to the margin area as needed; baking the crown or bridgework in an oven without the mold and removing the crown or bridgework from the oven when the restoration material is at least partially cured.

Systems and processes are disclosed for providing rapid and accurate dental prosthetic placement on implant abutments with robotic positioning for coping pick-up processing using a provisional fastener. In an embodiment, a dental arch with an open intaglio surface is bonded onto copings that are mounted onto threaded implant abutments with axially separable fasteners through a pick-up process using the same robotic system used to install the implant abutments into bone. The robotic system may apply movement to the prosthesis to aid its removal from abutments after the copings are bonded. The prosthesis with incorporated copings can subsequently be modified for attachment with definitive screws. One embodiment includes a prosthesis with integral robotic attachment features avoiding imaging of fiducial references for proper placement. An embodiment includes temporary arch indexing features between opposing arches to provide proper occlusion during pick-up processing.

A method of providing an accurate three-dimensional scan of a dental arch area is disclosed. The arch area has two segments and a connecting area between the two segments. The connecting area has homogeneous features. A connecting-geometry tool with at least one definable feature is affixed to the arch area. The definable feature overlays at least part of the connecting area. The arch area is scanned to produce a scanned dataset of the arch area. The definable feature of the connecting-geometry tool on the connection area is determined based on the scanned dataset. The dimensions of the arch area are determined based on the data relating to the definable features from the scanned dataset.

Improved dental models for use in dental procedures are provided. In one aspect, a unitary dental model of an intraoral cavity of a patient having a dental implant comprises a physical surface representative of gingival tissue of the patient. The model can comprise a channel shaped and oriented to receive an abutment corresponding to a physical abutment to be connected to the dental implant, in which the channel extends to an opening in the physical surface. The channel can comprise a first portion shaped to receive and constrain a corresponding structure of the abutment to a position and orientation and a second portion shaped to receive a fastener to couple the abutment to the unitary dental model. In many embodiments, the first portion comprises a shoulder shaped to receive the corresponding structure of the abutment in order to position the abutment along the channel.

A verification gauge for use in improving the accuracy of a 3D scan. A bar of adjustable length has a first and second ends that can be affixed between two points of the oral-cavity. The bar is scannable and has a visual indicia thereon to verify and determine the length and relative position between the two points.

A dental prosthesis and a process for design and manufacturing, incorporating a dental implant framework and veneering overlay that will be designed and manufactured simultaneously and permanently fixated to one another.

A method of generating a virtual 3D model of a dental arch is provided. The method includes receiving intraoral scans of a dental arch, determining a first depth of a first intraoral 3D surface in a first intraoral scan, and determining a second depth of a second intraoral 3D surface in the first intraoral scan, and wherein there is a fixed distance between the first intraoral 3D surface and the second intraoral 3D surface in the first intraoral scan. The method further includes stitching together the intraoral scans and generating a virtual 3D model of the dental arch from the intraoral scans, wherein the fixed distance between the first intraoral 3D surface and the second intraoral 3D surface is included in the virtual 3D model.

Method for producing a three-dimensional model of at least a partial jaw comprising: fully-automatic shaping of at least one recess for accommodating a laboratory analogue into the alveolar ridge of the model using three-dimensional scanning data and shaping the depth, position, and orientation of the at least one recess such that the crestal end of the laboratory analogue inserted into said recess coincides with the crestal end of the dental implant in the jaw; or fully-automatic shaping of at least one vestibular, lingual or palatinal feed-through through the model into the at least one recess using three-dimensional scanning data and arranging the feed-through such that the crestal end of a laboratory analogue coincides with the crestal end of the dental implant in the jaw when the laboratory analogue is fixed in place with a pin inserted through the feed-through in the model into an opening in the laboratory analogue.