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 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.

The invention relates to a dental tray assembly for intraoral imaging of an edentulous dental arch and/or palate. The dental tray assembly includes a base surface and an opposing external surface. An anterior wall is connected to the base surface and extends arcuately either side of a central axis coinciding, in use, with the labial frenulum. A posterior edge connects opposing sides of the anterior wall. The base surface and the anterior wall together define a concave trough for at least partially surrounding an edentulous arch. A spaced-apart array of ultrasound imaging elements is attached to the dental tray within the trough for emitting and receiving ultrasound signals, the received ultrasound signals being representative of the surface topography and/or sub-surface structures of an edentulous dental arch and/or palate to be imaged. Advantageously, by distributing the array of ultrasound imaging elements across the surface area of dental tray the entire edentulous arch and/or palate can be imaged instantaneously. Optionally, received ultrasound signals can be communicated to a remote device, such as a smartphone, running a software App which processes signals to form a virtual digital impression of the dental arches enabling the manufacture of prosthetic dentures having enhanced comfort and stability.

In one representative embodiment, an intraoral scanning device includes a scan head sized and shaped to be placed inside a patient's mouth. The scan head can include at least one ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic images and at least one light-based sensor for generating optical images.

A three-dimensional intraoral scanner includes: an outer body forming a trough, an outer surface of the outer body comprising a plastic material and an inner surface of the outer body at the trough including a transparent or translucent material, the trough being configured to fit around a row of a patient's teeth; and a sled within the outer body and configured to move along the trough, the sled including a plurality of ultrasonic sensors and a plurality of optical sensors configured to image the patient's mouth.

A dental imager includes an elongated handle with a rotatable head coupled to a distal end thereof and having a central platform with a plurality of arcuate scanning arms pivotally coupled thereto by a hinge. The arcuate scanning arms are of a shape and size for general deployment around a tooth and each include at least one scanner and a roller guide that comfortably rolls along the surface of the tooth or gums to bias the scanners a desired distance from the surface of the tooth, conducive for imaging thereof. In this respect, such a dental imager may be used in a process to scan and record the contours of an intraoral surface, the data of which may be used to create a digital three-dimensional surface impression printable by a 3D printer or the like.

A system and method for optimising the preparation of dental restorations is provided. The system comprises a dental restoration surface processing unit, a dental restoration assessment unit, a database comprising a treatment parameters database and a processing protocols database, a processor operationally coupled to said dental restoration surface processing unit and a protocol selector. The method treats a dental restoration surface using the system and according to one or more selected processing protocol.

A dental imager includes an elongated handle with a rotatable head coupled to a distal end thereof and having a central platform with a plurality of arcuate scanning arms pivotally coupled thereto by a hinge. The arcuate scanning arms are of a shape and size for general deployment around a tooth and each include at least one scanner and a roller guide that comfortably rolls along the surface of the tooth or gums to bias the scanners a desired distance from the surface of the tooth, conducive for imaging thereof. In this respect, such a dental imager may be used in a process to scan and record the contours of an intraoral surface, the data of which may be used to create a digital three-dimensional surface impression printable by a 3D printer or the like.

A first multitude of intraoral images of a first portion of a three-dimensional intraoral object are received. A pre-existing model that corresponds to the three-dimensional intraoral object is identified. A first intraoral image of the first multitude of intraoral images is registered to a first portion of the pre-existing model. A second intraoral image of the first multitude of intraoral images is registered to a second portion of the pre-existing model.

A transoral ultrasound probe for imaging a temporomandibular joint and a method of imaging a temporomandibular joint using a transoral probe.