GINGIVAL INDEXING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INDEXING THE GINGIVA

Abstract

Gingiva indexing devices and methods with various defined red colour regions have a colour grey card or grey card assigned to it for detecting the gingiva status, in particular for producing a gingival restoration. The devices and method comprise an analysis of at least one region of the gingiva status with regard to its shades of red, the position of the shades of red, the colour profile of the shades of red, their geometry and/or their morphology. The analysis can take place manually and/or digitally, and gingiva information is obtained, in particular in the form of a gingiva map, and optional production of a virtual or real model of a gingival restoration as a reproduction of the missing part of the gums and/or part of gingiva.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the gingiva status, the method comprising A) analyzing at least one region of the gingiva status taking place with respect to its shades of red, the position of the shades of red and/or the colour profile of the shades of red and, optionally, the geometry and/or morphology, wherein the analysis is a digital analysis, and B) gingiva information is obtained, wherein analysis A) is performed as a digital analysis, and in which at least one region of the gingiva status and, optionally, one region of the face is detected while using a colour grey card and/or a grey card for calibration, wherein the region of the gingiva is digitally detected, two- or three-dimensionally, in conjunction with the card, wherein digital gingiva information is obtained as a digital data set, or two- or three-dimensional detecting at least one region of the gingiva status and, optionally, of the tooth status and, optionally, of a region of the face and at least one colour region with a shade of red of an indexing device takes place, whereby the detection takes place in conjunction with the detection of at least one part of a colour grey card and/or grey card for calibration, wherein digital gingiva information is obtained as a digital data set.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gingiva is analysed digitally and/or manually examined with a software, wherein the gingiva status and, optionally, the tooth status is examined with the software for shades and/or colour profiles, with the gingiva being analysed for (i) colour profiles of the papillae, crestal, in the region of the sulcus, with, additionally or alternatively, (ii) the geometry of the gingiva being analysed, in particular for the position of the papillae, the crestal status, the width of the tooth, the alveolar ridge and/or the tooth status, such as the visibility of the dental necks and/or the (iii) the morphology of the gingiva being analysed, and wherein gingiva information being obtained.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein analysis (i) takes place digitally through the use of the software, and in which a white balance and/or balance of the colour distortion in correlation to the colour grey card or grey card is performed through the use of a software on the digital data set of the digital gingiva information, and a colour-adapted digital data set is obtained, the colour-adapted digital data set of the gingiva status and, optionally, of the tooth status is analysed manually with a cursor or automatically for shades and/or colour profiles, whereby gingiva information is obtained, and, optionally, the gingiva information and/or the gingiva regions each independently have one or more defined, ready-made, dental colours and/or one or more colour mixing instructions assigned to them.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gingiva information is obtained in the form of a gingiva map.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gingiva information a) is assigned to digitally coded colour regions, or b) is designed to manually coded colour regions of an indexing device, wherein a colour mixing instruction is assigned, each independently, to the coding.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a virtual or real gingival restoration is prepared, wherein (i) in a step prior to the preparation of the virtual or real gingival model, a first digital data set comprising digital gingiva information of a first virtual model of the gingiva status is prepared by means of intraoral scanning, in conjunction with the detection of a colour grey card and/or grey card for calibration and, optionally, at least one colour region with a shade of red of an indexing device; alternatively, a first digital data set is prepared via a 3D scan of a silicone impression or via a 3D scan of a real model and each is supplemented with gingiva information, and, optionally, (i.1) performing a white balance and/or a balance of the colour distortion and obtaining a colour-adapted digital data set, and, optionally, (i.2) analysing the colour-adapted data set for shades and/or colour profiles, and obtaining gingiva information and, optionally, (i.3) assigning the gingiva information to ready-made dental colours and/or a colour mixing instruction, and (ii) preparing the digital data set with the geometry of the virtual or real gingiva model of the gingival restoration and gingiva information, and, optionally, (iii) producing a gingival restoration.

7. A method for producing of a virtual or real model of a gingival restoration comprising the method according to claim 1, and comprising step C) producing a virtual or real model of a gingival restoration.

8. A gingiva indexing device, wherein the device comprises a) at least one colour region, whereby the colour region comprises at least one shade of red, and b) the indexing device has at least one colour grey card and/or one grey card assigned to it.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the device comprises b) at least one region, in which a colour grey card and/or grey card is arranged.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein a colour mixing instruction is assigned to the colour regions.

11. A kit comprising the gingiva indexing device according to claim 8 and a write-on gingiva template.

12. A gingival restoration obtainable according to the method according to claim 1.

13. A digital data set obtainable according to the method according to claim 1 a data carrier.

14. Software configured for processing digital data sets obtained according to the method according to claim 1 and/or for preparing digital data sets of the gingival restoration.

15. The software according to claim 14, wherein the software allows for analysis of digitally supplied data of the at least one region of gingiva for its shades of red, the position of the shades of red, the colour profile of the shades of red and/or the morphology, and provides gingiva information, and, optionally, for assigning coded colour regions, wherein a colour mixing instruction is assigned to the coding, and/or for calculation of digital data sets of a gingival restoration.

Description

[0090] The invention is illustrated in more detail based on the following figures without limiting the invention to the examples given.

[0091] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a part of the regions to be analysed for determining the gingiva status. FIG. 3 shows a gingiva status with gingival deficit 7, whereas FIG. 4 shows the mouth with gingival restoration. FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show a gingiva indexing device 0 in the form of an element, in particular a planar element 1 having a multitude of colour regions 2, which are provided as coloured bodies with a defined shade of red in these alternatives. The colour regions 2 are coded 3, whereby the coding has a colour mixing instruction (manual or digital) assigned to it such that the natural reproduction of the different shades of red of the gingiva, their colour profiles, morphology, and geometry are feasible based on the detected colour region and its coding. The reproduction can take place by means of printing, mixing, etc., of plastic materials, plastic materials with a filler content, elastomeric plastic materials, ceramics or composites. FIG. 7 shows an indexing device and one option of separating the colour regions by cutting the device. The indexing device shown is a single-use indexing device.

[0092] FIG. 8 shows a possible scenario for detection of the shades of red and their colour profiles in that the gingiva is analysed by means of the indexing device and individual colour regions are assigned to defined positions of the gingiva. The analysed and assigned colour regions can then be transferred, in terms of their position, to the write-on gingiva template of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 10 shows a gingiva map of the shades of red and colour profiles, i.e. a gingiva template having gingiva information written on it that was determined using the method according to the invention. Alternatively, the analysis according to FIG. 8 can just as well be detected by means of digital methods, such as photographing or intraoral scanning. The simplest option is the detection of the gingiva status or of the gingiva status and indexing device by means of the photo or film function of a smart phone, iPod or similar device. The data can be stored and transferred in known manner, such as, for example, by ftp, email, storage medium. The digital data of the first digital data set thus obtained can then be processed further as described above. FIGS. 11 and 12 show possible workflows of methods according to the invention for detection of the gingiva status, up to the preparation of the gingival restoration. FIG. 12 discloses the method according to the invention involving the use of a colour grey card or grey card.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0093] A: width gingiva-dental arch; [0094] B: height gingiva-dental arch, [0095] C: Contour between the teeth; height and position of the papilla, [0096] D: Measure of visibility of tooth stump, [0097] E: black triangle, [0098] F: Morphology [0099] 0 Gingiva indexing device [0100] 1 Element, in particular planar element [0101] 2 Colour region, in particular coloured body [0102] 3 Coding, coded colour region [0103] 4 Write-on gingiva template [0104] 4.1 Write-on gingiva template of the upper front tooth region, [0105] 4.2 Write-on gingiva template of the lower front tooth region, [0106] 4.3 Write-on gingiva template of the upper lateral tooth region [0107] 4.4 Write-on gingiva template of the lower lateral tooth region [0108] 5 Transferred colour region [0109] 6 Gingival restoration (FIG. 3) [0110] 7 Gingiva status (gingival deficit; gingival recession, missing part of the gingiva) (FIG. 4) [0111] 8 Base of the indexing device and/or colour grey card and/or grey card