Method of composing and designing a set of teeth

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of designing a number of dental restorations for a patient, wherein the method includes: selecting a composed set of teeth including a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other forming a high aesthetic composition; applying the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth; optionally modifying one or more parameters of one or more of the teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth.

Claims

1. A system for designing .[.a number of.]. .Iadd.one or more .Iaddend.dental restorations for a patient, wherein the system comprises.Iadd.: a display screen; and .Iaddend. a computer .Iadd.connected to the display screen, wherein the computer is .Iaddend.configured to: select a composed set of teeth comprising a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other .Iadd.and interrelated to each other .Iaddend.forming an arranged composition; apply the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth .Iadd.including the composed set of teeth and present teeth of the patient.Iaddend.; collectively modify.Iadd., in accordance with a coordinate system for the composed set of teeth, .Iaddend.the entire .Iadd.composed set of teeth in the .Iaddend.initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the entire .Iadd.composed .Iaddend.set of teeth simultaneously using the computer.Iadd., wherein the coordinate system for the composed set of teeth is defined specifically for the composed set of teeth.Iaddend.; wherein the collective modification involves rotation of the .Iadd.entire composed set of .Iaddend.teeth .Iadd.with respect to the present teeth of the patient.Iaddend..

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the collective modification involves rotation of the teeth .[.relative to.]. .Iadd.about .Iaddend.a median line of the patient's face.

3. A computer-implemented method of designing .[.a number of.]. .Iadd.one or more .Iaddend.dental restorations for a patient, wherein the method comprises: selecting a composed set of teeth comprising a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other .Iadd.and interrelated to each other .Iaddend.forming an arranged composition; applying the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth .Iadd.including the composed set of teeth and present teeth of the patient.Iaddend.; collectively modifying .[.a plurality of.]..Iadd., in accordance with a coordinate system for the composed set of teeth, .Iaddend.the .Iadd.entire composed set of .Iaddend.teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the .[.plurality.]. .Iadd.entire composed set .Iaddend.of teeth simultaneously using the computer.Iadd., wherein the coordinate system for the composed set of teeth is defined specifically for the composed set of teeth.Iaddend.; wherein the .[.method further comprises modifying the entire initial set of teeth collectively and the collective modification.]. .Iadd.collectively modifying step .Iaddend.involves rotation of the .Iadd.entire composed set of .Iaddend.teeth .Iadd.with respect to the present teeth of the patient.Iaddend..

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises: modifying one or more parameters of the plurality of teeth in the composed set of teeth before applying the representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain a modified composed set of teeth.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the collective modification involves rotation of teeth .[.relative to.]. .Iadd.about .Iaddend.a median line of the patient's face.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the collective modification involves changing a geometric shape of the teeth in a center of the teeth.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the geometric shape of the central teeth is or is a combination selected from: an oval shape; a triangular shape; or a rectangular/square shape.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises mirroring of teeth.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises cloning of teeth.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises providing collision mapping relative to an antagonist.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises virtually fitting the finalized set of teeth to a virtual retainer.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises cutting the finalized set of teeth to the retainer.

13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the initial set of teeth may be fitted/cut to the retainer and/or to the gingival before the set of teeth becomes the finalized set of teeth.

14. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises virtually designing the retainer.

15. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises virtually cutting the finalized set of teeth to the gingival.

16. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises fitting the finalized set of teeth to its anatomical correct position in the gingival.

17. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises adding virtual guiding lines to be overlaid on the initial set of teeth.

18. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the selecting a composed set of teeth comprising a number of teeth involves selecting the composed set of teeth from an electronic library comprising a number of different composed sets of teeth.

19. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the entire set of teeth uniformly using the computer.

20. The computer-implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the entire set of teeth identically using the computer.

21. A nontransitory computer readable medium storing thereon a computer program, where said computer program is configured for causing computer-assisted designing of a number of dental restorations by performing the method of claim 3.

.Iadd.22. The system according to claim 1, wherein selecting the composed set of teeth includes selecting a set of teeth from a library and further selecting the number of teeth from the set of teeth selected from the library. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.23. The system according to claim 1, wherein selecting the composed set of teeth includes selecting a set of teeth from a library and further selecting all of the teeth from the set of teeth selected from the library. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the composed set of teeth includes all of the teeth for a corresponding jaw. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.25. A system for designing one or more dental restorations for a patient, wherein the system comprises: a display screen; and a computer connected to the display screen, wherein the computer is configured to: select a composed set of teeth comprising a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other and interrelated to each other forming an arranged composition; apply the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth including the composed set of teeth and present teeth of the patient; collectively modify, in accordance with a coordinate system for the composed set of teeth, a plurality of teeth of the composed set of teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the plurality of teeth simultaneously using the computer, wherein the coordinate system for the composed set of teeth is defined specifically for the composed set of teeth; wherein the collective modification involves rotation of the plurality of teeth with respect to the present teeth of the patient. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.26. A system for designing one or more dental restorations for a patient, wherein the system comprises: a display screen; and a computer connected to the display screen, wherein the computer is configured to: select a composed set of teeth comprising a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other and interrelated t each other forming an arranged composition; apply the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth including the composed set of teeth and present teeth of the patient; collectively modify, in accordance with a coordinate system for the composed set of teeth, the entire composed set of teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the entire composed set of teeth simultaneously using the computer, wherein the coordinate system for the composed set of teeth is defined specifically for the composed set of teeth; wherein the collective modification involves rotation of the entire composed set of teeth with respect to gingiva of the patient. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.27. A system for designing one or more dental restorations for a patient, wherein the system comprises: a display screen; and a computer connected to the display screen, wherein the computer is configured to: select a composed set of teeth comprising a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other and interrelated to each other forming an arranged composition; apply the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth including the composed set of teeth and present teeth of the patient; collectively modify, in accordance with a coordinate system for the composed set of teeth, the entire composed set of teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth, wherein the collective modification involves modifying the entire composed set of teeth simultaneously using the computer, wherein the coordinate system for the composed set of teeth is defined specifically for the composed set of teeth; wherein the collective modification involves rotation of the entire composed set of teeth with respect to gingiva of the patient and the present teeth of the patient. .Iaddend.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a flow chart of the method.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an example of a composed set of teeth.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an example of modification of a composed set of teeth.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an example of a patient's present oral situation.

(6) FIG. 5 shows an example of an initial set of teeth, where the composed set of teeth is applied to the patient's present oral situation.

(7) FIG. 6 shows examples of collective modifications of different parameters of the initial set of teeth.

(8) FIG. 7 shows examples of individual modifications of different local parameters of the initial set of teeth.

(9) FIG. 8 shows an example of a finalised set of teeth.

(10) FIG. 9 shows examples of retention means for the designed set of teeth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which show by way of illustration how the invention may be practiced.

(12) The method is performed in a computer program suitable for performing the method. A screen connected to the computer may be provided on which the user can view the user interface of the program, and by means of e.g. a computer keyboard, a computer mouse, a touch screen, a space ball, a touchpad etc. the user can perform demands, such as selecting features and modifying features viewed on the screen. The program performs calculations or shows the changes on the screen view corresponding to the demands the user has made. The program, in which the method can be performed, can be a part of a larger program, it can be a separate program, the program can have means for communicating with other programs, other hardware, software or firmware etc.

(13) FIG. 1 shows an example of a flow chart of the method.

(14) In step 101 a composed set of teeth is selected, where the composed set of teeth comprises a number of teeth, and where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other.

(15) In step 102 a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation is provided.

(16) In step 103 the composed set of teeth is applied to the virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth.

(17) In step 104 one or more parameters of one or more of the teeth in the initial set of teeth is modified to obtain a finalized set of teeth.

(18) FIG. 2 shows an example of a composed set of teeth.

(19) The composed set of teeth 201 is in this example seen from below and is the teeth of the upper arch. The figure shows an example of the curve of the teeth defined by the relative position of teeth. The composed set of teeth can be selected from an electronic library containing a number of different composed set or teeth, or the user can design the composed set of teeth himself by defining one or more parameters for the teeth. The teeth in the composed set of teeth 201 are arranged relative to each other, they are interrelated spatially.

(20) The teeth in the composed set of teeth 201 can be selected based on a number of parameters, such as size, shape etc.

(21) The median line 206 is shown and a line 212 perpendicular to the median line is shown. The function of the line 212 is for improved visual direction for the user. Thus a global coordinate system for the complete composed set of teeth is defined, whereby rotation, positioning etc. can be controlled for the complete composed set of teeth. The box 213 around the first molar tooth indicates that a coordinate system can be defined for each tooth, whereby rotation, positioning etc. can be controlled for each individual tooth.

(22) FIG. 3 shows an example of modification of a composed set of teeth.

(23) A tooth 305 in a composed set of teeth 301 is modified individually. In this example, the tooth 305 is rotated relative to the median line 306. A coordinate system 307 specific for the tooth 305 is shown on the tooth 305 for indicating to the user that that the program is in the mode, where the tooth can be modified with respect to positioning, e.g. rotation, translation etc. The tooth can also be modified for example with respect to shape, e.g. length, thickness, distribution of mass etc.

(24) FIG. 3 and the following figures show screen-shots from a program where the method can be performed.

(25) FIG. 4 shows an example of a patient's present oral situation.

(26) The present oral situation 402 is in this example a case where the right central teeth 408, which may be denoted no. 9 in some dental notations, is prepared for a crown, the left central teeth no. 8, 409 is missing, the lateral teeth no. 7, 410, is also prepared for a crown, and the canine or cuspid no. 6, 411, is unmodified and not prepared for a dental restoration.

(27) The present oral situation 402 can be a three dimensional virtual representation of the patient's present set of teeth or missing set of teeth. The three dimensional virtual representation can be obtained by scanning the patient's present oral situation or set of teeth using an intraoral scanner and/or scanning the surface of a negative impression of the patient's present teeth and/or scanning the surface of a positive model of the patient's present teeth.

(28) FIG. 5 shows an example of an initial set of teeth, where the composed set of teeth is applied to the patient's present oral situation.

(29) The initial set of teeth 503 is a combination of the composed set of teeth 501 and the patient's present oral situation 502. In this case, four teeth, 508, 509, 510, 511, from the composed set of teeth 501 are applied to the present oral situation 502. However, in other cases, all teeth from a composed set of teeth may be applied to the present oral situation, such that no present or original teeth are left. In other cases, more or less than four teeth from the composed set of teeth are applied to the present oral situation, depending on how many teeth the patient wishes to have exchanged.

(30) FIG. 6 shows examples of collective modifications of different parameters of the initial set of teeth.

(31) FIG. 6a shows an example of collective rotation of the initial set of teeth.

(32) The parameter which is collectively modified is in this example rotation, and the modification is performed on the composed four teeth, 608, 609, 610, 611, in the initial set of teeth 603 with respect to the median line. The four composed teeth 608, 609, 610, 611 are all four rotated collectively so that they all have become skew with respect to the remaining teeth in present oral situation. The global or common rotation is indicated with a circle 614 with markers, and it is clearly seen that the composed teeth have been rotated simultaneously and uniformly or identically, for example if comparing the length of tooth 611 with the length of the corresponding teeth 511 in FIG. 5. This is an example of global rotation, where a number of teeth are rotated collectively, i.e. simultaneously and e.g. identically.

(33) FIG. 6b) shows an example of collective shaping of the initial set of teeth.

(34) The parameter which is collectively modified is in this example shaping or morphing, and the modification is performed on the composed four teeth 608, 609, 610, 611, in the initial set of teeth 603. The composed teeth 608, 609, 610, 611 are all four collectively reshaped or morphed such that their shape or geometry is changed simultaneously and uniformly or identically. The global or common shaping or morphing is indicated by dots 615 on the collectively modified teeth and by dots 616 forming a line along the biting edge of the collectively modified teeth. It is seen that the teeth 608, 609, 610, 611 have been collectively shaped or morphed with a point of origin at the mesial point of the biting edge of tooth 609, and that the shaping or morphing is directed to a small compression at the point of origin, whereby the two central teeth 609, 608 have got sloped biting edges, which are in opposite directions. The other composed teeth 610, 611 are only slightly reshaped or morphed as a result of the collective shaping or morphing with point of origin at tooth 609.

(35) FIG. 7 shows examples of individual modifications of different local parameters of the initial set of teeth.

(36) FIG. 7a) shows an example of individual scaling of a single tooth in the initial set of teeth.

(37) The parameter which is individually modified is in this example scaling, and the composed tooth 708 in the initial set of teeth 703 is modified. The other composed teeth 709, 710, 711 are not modified in this example. The coordinate system 717 indicates the scaling of the tooth 708. By means of the scaling, tooth 708 can become bigger or smaller, longer or shorter, wider or narrower. In this case, the tooth 708 has been modified to be longer than before, i.e., tooth 708 is made longer than it was in the composed set of teeth.

(38) When moving for example a pointer arrow by means of e.g. a computer mouse over a single tooth then the coordinate system 717 for that tooth is seen when the program is in the individual scaling mode.

(39) FIG. 7b) shows an example of individual rotation of a single tooth in the initial set of teeth.

(40) The parameter which is individually modified is in this example rotation, and it is the composed tooth 708 in the initial set of teeth 703 which is modified. The other composed teeth 709, 710, 711 are not modified in this example.

(41) The initial set of teeth 703 is seen from below in this figure instead of from the front as in the other figures, since the individual rotation is better illustrated in this view. The rotation system 718 indicates the rotation of the tooth 708. The tooth 708 has been rotated with respect to the median line such that the mesial part of the tooth 708 points more outwards.

(42) FIG. 8 shows an example of a finalised set of teeth.

(43) The finalised set of teeth 804 is obtained when the modifications of the initial set of teeth are finished and no more modifications will be performed. The finalised set of teeth 804 is the set of the teeth that will be manufactured and inserted into the patient's mouth. The finalized set of teeth may be manufactured as a number of dental restorations.

(44) FIG. 9 shows examples of retention means for the designed set of teeth.

(45) FIG. 9a) shows an example where the retention means is a patient's present oral situation 902, which is in this example a case where the right central teeth 908, which may be denoted no. 9 in some dental notations, is prepared for a crown, the left central teeth no. 8, 909 is missing, the lateral teeth no. 7, 910, is also prepared for a crown, and the canine or cuspid no. 6, 911, is unmodified and not prepared for a dental restoration.

(46) The present oral situation 902 can be a three dimensional virtual representation of the patient's present set of teeth or missing set of teeth. The three dimensional virtual representation can be obtained by scanning the patient's present oral situation or set of teeth using an intraoral scanner and/or scanning the surface of a negative impression of the patient's present teeth and/or scanning the surface of a positive model of the patient's present teeth.

(47) FIG. 9b) shows an example where the retention means is an implant bridge 919 onto which a full denture is adapted to be arranged. On the side opposite to where the denture should be attached, the implant bridge 919 comprises protrusions 920 from holes for receiving implants (not shown). The implant bridge may be a standard bridge. Alternatively, the implant bridge may be customized for the patient and may be modeled automatically based on the shape of the patient's dental arch. The patient's dental arch may be determined by means of scanning the patient's mouth using an intraoral scanner and/or scanning the surface of a negative impression of the patient's mouth and/or scanning the surface of a positive model of the patient's mouth.

(48) FIG. 9c) shows an example where the retention means is an implant bridge 919 comprising pins 921 where each pin is adapted to receive an artificial tooth having a hole in it for fitting over the pin, or where the pin is adapted to be covered by veneering in the form of e.g. ceramics or composite material for resembling teeth. On the side opposite to the pins 921, the implant bridge 919 comprises protrusions 920 from holes for receiving implants (not shown). The implant bridges shown in FIG. 9c) may be difficult to model automatically because the final shape of such an implant bridge is customized to the dental arch and the denture and as seen from the figures the implant bridges are not primarily based on standard geometrical forms. The implant bridge in FIG. 9c) may therefore be provided by cut-back of the preliminary model of the denture. From the figure it can be seen that the cut-back vary from tooth to tooth depending on the position of the tooth. The cut-back also varies depending on the type of the tooth and from which side of the tooth the cut-back is provided.

(49) Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. In particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(50) In device claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

(51) It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

(52) The features of the method described above and in the following may be implemented in software and carried out on a data processing system or other processing means caused by the execution of computer-executable instructions. The instructions may be program code means loaded in a memory, such as a RAM, from a storage medium or from another computer via a computer network. Alternatively, the described features may be implemented by hardwired circuitry instead of software or in combination with software.