Assistance System for Dental Treatment, in Particular by Changing a Tooth Color

Abstract

An assistance system for dental treatment, particularly for changing tooth color, is provided herein, including a measuring device for determining tooth data. The data captured is transmitted from the measuring device to a data processing means. The data processing means includes a camera for capturing a tooth mage. Using a selection means, a color change level for the tooth image or the teeth is specified and, thereafter, the tooth image is adapted based on the selected color change level using an adaptation means. Thus, it is possible to show the patient an image of a color change of his teeth caused by the dental treatment in relation to the appearance of his face, so the patient can judge a color change in relation to his or her face.

Claims

1. An assistance system for dental treatment, in particular for changing a tooth color, the system comprising: a measuring device configured to measure tooth data associated with teeth to be treated, the tooth data including at least one of a tooth color, a tooth coordinate, or any combination thereof; a data processing means, and a camera configured to capture a tooth image, wherein the data processing means comprises a receiving module, and the measuring device comprises a transmitting module configured to transmit measured tooth data from the measuring device to the data processing means; an allocation module integrated in the data processing means, the allocation module configured to allocate received tooth data to a tooth image; a selection means configured to select a level of color change; and an adaptation means configured to adapt the tooth image to the selected level of color change.

2. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the tooth image comprises at least part of a face.

3. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device automatically measures the tooth data.

4. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the data processing means further comprises a module configured to determine a tooth region in the tooth image.

5. The assistance system of claim 4, wherein determining the tooth region comprises a determination of eyes and/or a mean tooth height.

6. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the allocation of the tooth data to the tooth image is performed such that an appearance of the teeth in the tooth image corresponds to the measured tooth data.

7. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein a table of tooth data is stored in the selection means.

8. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the adaptation means exclusively adapts the tooth region.

9. A method for assisting in dental treatment, in particular for changing a tooth color, the method comprising: determining tooth data of teeth to be treated, the tooth data including at least one of a tooth color, a color coordinate, or any combination thereof; capturing a tooth image using a camera connected to a data processing unit; allocating the tooth data to the tooth image using an allocation module of a data processing means; specifying a color change level, by which the tooth color is to be changed; and adapting the tooth image using the color change level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a measuring device specifies the tooth data automatically.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a tooth region in the tooth image is determined using a module of the data processing unit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination of the tooth region comprises a determination of the eyes and/or the mean tooth height.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the allocation of the tooth data to the tooth image is performed such that an appearance of the teeth in the tooth image corresponds to the measured tooth data.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the tooth region is adapted exclusively on the basis of the color change level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the Figures:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic Illustration pf the assistance system, and

[0022] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred Functioning of the assistance system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The assistance system comprises a measuring device 10 for an automatic capturing of tooth data 12. For this purpose, the measuring device 10, which e.g. is the device VITA EASYSHADE, can be held directly to the teeth. Using a transmission module 22, the detected tooth data 12 are transmitted, as illustrated by an arrow 14, to a data processing means 16, preferably in a wireless manner. The latter may be a smartphone or a tablet. For data capture, the data processing means 16 comprises a receiving module 24.

[0024] In the embodiment illustrated, the data processing means 16 comprises an integrated camera 18 for capturing a tooth image 20. The tooth image is then shown on a screen 26 of the data processing means 16, wherein the tooth image preferably shows at least a part of the face.

[0025] The preferred use of the assistance system for dental treatment of the disclosure is schematically illustrated in the flow diagram in FIG. 2. First, a tooth image is captured in step 30. Thereafter, in step 32 the tooth region, i.e. the region in the image in which the teeth are shown, is specified using image recognition software.

[0026] Using the electronic measuring device 10, tooth data are determined in step 34. In step 36, the tooth data of the natural tooth are then allocated to the current tooth data of the tooth image, i.e. in particular to the tooth region shown in the tooth image. This allocation is made irrespective of the actual representation of the teeth in the tooth image.

[0027] In the next step 38, e.g. a whitening level is selected. This may be done using stored tables, the input of a numeric value corresponding to a whitening level, or by means of a variably adjustable control. In step 40, the tooth region is shown in the tooth image with the teeth whitened. In this context, a dynamic change is possible. For example, when a control is provided by which the whitening level can be defined, a change in tooth color can be shown in the image synchronously with the shifting of the control. Thus, it is clearly visible to the Patient how the overall appearance of the face changes by changing the tooth color.