CN-115720511-B - Method for automatically creating 3D models for dentistry and orthodontics

CN115720511BCN 115720511 BCN115720511 BCN 115720511BCN-115720511-B

Abstract

One system and method is a web-based application for creating and managing 3D models for orthodontic laboratory prescriptions in a dental office or laboratory. The method includes automatically detecting and removing any appliances included within the 3D image file. After the appliance has been removed, the system automatically replaces the removed image data with new image data calculated to simulate the tooth surface disposed under the deleted appliance to create a clean second 3D image. The method may also automatically refine the second 3D image of the patient's teeth or delete any artifacts remaining after the second 3D image is created. The second 3D image may then be used as a basis for changing the orthodontic or dental prescription of the patient.

Inventors

Mark Lemson
Todd Brankenbecklow
ALAN YANG
Ryan Guva
DHAKA VIJAY

Assignees

凯德弗洛公司
马克·莱姆臣
托德·布兰肯贝克洛
艾伦·扬
瑞安·古瓦
维贾伊·达卡

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20210401
Priority Date: 20200401

Claims (14)

1. A method for automatically creating a 3D tooth model, comprising: uploading the first 3D image to an upload database; Dividing the first 3D image into a segmentation grid and a plurality of bracket grids; detecting image data corresponding to at least one fixture within the first 3D image by comparing each of the plurality of bracket grids to a set of ginseng prepare for TOFEL slots; deleting detected image data corresponding to the at least one fixture from the segmentation grid; inferring 3D image data calculated to approximate the tooth surface disposed under the deleted image data by calculating curvature of the tooth surface under the deleted image data to create a second 3D image, and Saving the second 3D image to a processed database, Wherein the steps of detecting and deleting the image data corresponding to the at least one appliance from the first 3D image and inferring 3D image data calculated to be proximate to the tooth surface to create a second 3D image are performed automatically in sequence.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising refining the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein saving the second 3D image to the processed database is performed automatically in sequence after deducing the 3D image data calculated to be close to the tooth surface arranged below the deleted image data.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein refining the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance comprises cropping at least a portion of the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image, the inferred 3D image data corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein refining the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance comprises adding to at least a portion of the inferred 3D image data, the inferred 3D image data corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein refining the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance includes defining an intersection between the inferred 3D image data and image data corresponding to gums of a patient within the second 3D image, the inferred 3D image data corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein refining the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance comprises smoothing at least a portion of the inferred 3D image data corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the image data corresponding to the at least one appliance within the first 3D image comprises detecting image data corresponding to an orthodontic bracket.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein refining the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image corresponding to the tooth surface disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance includes deleting any artifacts from the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting metadata related to the first 3D image to a server in communication with the upload database and the processed database.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending the first 3D image from the server to a queue prior to detecting image data corresponding to at least one fixture within the first 3D image.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein uploading the first 3D image to the upload database comprises automatically storing the first 3D image to a file memory within the upload database.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein uploading the first 3D image to the upload database comprises uploading a first STL file comprising the first 3D image.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the second 3D image to the processed database comprises saving the second 3D image to a file memory within the processed database.

Description

Method for automatically creating 3D models for dentistry and orthodontics Technical Field The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing customized orthodontic and dental appliances, and in particular to automatic editing of 3D images for creating orthodontic or dental prescriptions for patients. Background Prescriptions once manually formulated with resin impressions or molds are increasingly being performed in the digital working space in orthodontic clinics and laboratories. Instead of creating a physical model of the patient's teeth, the patient need only scan their mouth and teeth via an intraoral digital scan, which creation is uncomfortable or time consuming for the patient. Once the patient has digitally scanned their teeth, the orthodontist can obtain data from the scan to create a 3D image corresponding to the patient's teeth. Since each prescription is unique to each patient and may be composed of multiple components or appliances of very specific design, the 3D image is manipulated accordingly to add or remove any appliances necessary to possibly execute the orthodontist's new or updated prescription. Once completed, the specifications corresponding to the appliances added to the 3D image and the 3D image itself are sent to the laboratory for manufacturing. The use of 3D models allows the orthodontist to virtually apply or reapply a different appliance to the patient's teeth without having to use a physical casting of the patient's teeth, thereby significantly reducing the time and expense required for preparing the patient's orthodontic prescription. However, problems arise for those patients who have had orthodontic appliances (including brackets of dental appliances) worn, and who then have to make an intraoral scan to change or alter their prescription. Thus, the final 3D image of the patient's teeth inherently includes these pre-existing appliances, which makes it difficult (if not impossible) for the orthodontist to apply new orthodontic appliances or adjust pre-existing appliances within the 3D image. Furthermore, while there are 3D image editing tools that can remove brackets from the original 3D image, these tools are quite labor intensive and may even require multiple hours to edit for a single patient. In particular, many 3D image tools require the user to manually select an image object to be removed, remove the object, and then complete any additional image editing. In addition, many of the same 3D image editing tools lack the ability to reconstruct the surface of the tooth after removal of the bracket, resulting in "holes" or blank spots where no image data exists. What is needed is a method of modifying a 3D image (e.g., removing orthodontic appliances including brackets from the 3D image) to aid in the design and/or manufacture of a dental prosthesis. The method should be simple and easy to use and largely automatic and require little input from the user to quickly implement the method. Disclosure of Invention The illustrated embodiments of the present invention include within their scope methods for creating and manipulating 3D models that may be subsequently used in creating orthodontic or dental prescriptions. The method includes obtaining a 3D image corresponding to a patient's teeth, automatically removing the brackets from the 3D image and/or restoring and refining the 3D image after removing the brackets. The method further includes automatically cropping or basing the 3D image to produce a desired 3D model. The modified 3D image may then be used in designing a customized orthodontic or dental appliance to assist the prescribing user in updating the patient's prescription. The present invention provides a method for automatically creating a 3D tooth model. The method includes uploading the first 3D image to an upload database, detecting image data corresponding to at least one fixture within the first 3D image, and then deleting the detected image data corresponding to the at least one fixture from the first 3D image. Next, 3D image data is inferred by calculating an approximate surface of the tooth disposed below the deleted image data to create a second 3D image. The second 3D image is then saved to the processed database. The method further provides that the steps of detecting and deleting image data corresponding to the at least one appliance from the first 3D image and inferring 3D image data calculated to be proximate to the tooth surface to create a second 3D image are performed automatically in sequence. In one embodiment, the method further comprises refining inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image, the inferred 3D image data corresponding to tooth surfaces disposed below the deleted image data corresponding to the at least one appliance. In particular, in a related embodiment, refining the inferred 3D image data includes cropping at least a portion of the inferred 3D image data of the second 3D image, the inferred 3D image data corresponding t