U.S. patent application number 16/538309 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-28 for method and apparatus for dental articulation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ronald G. Presswood, JR., Ronald G. Presswood. Invention is credited to Ronald G. Presswood, JR., Ronald G. Presswood.
Application Number | 20190362033 16/538309 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48984662 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190362033 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Presswood; Ronald G. ; et
al. |
November 28, 2019 |
Method and Apparatus for Dental Articulation
Abstract
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for
recording and simulating the condylar movement of an individual.
This invention also provides a digital dental articulator method
which is designed to simulate the jaw or condylar movements of a
patient. This instrument enables a dentist to obtain the necessary
diagnostic information for treatment of the occlusal
irregularities, such as malocclusion, and the fabrication of dental
restorations or "dentures" and for the development of an
orthodontic treatment plan.
Inventors: |
Presswood; Ronald G.;
(Houston, TX) ; Presswood, JR.; Ronald G.;
(Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Presswood; Ronald G.
Presswood, JR.; Ronald G. |
Houston
Houston |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48984662 |
Appl. No.: |
16/538309 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14377264 |
Aug 7, 2014 |
10380271 |
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PCT/US13/25954 |
Feb 13, 2013 |
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16538309 |
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61598708 |
Feb 14, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 11/00 20130101;
A61C 7/002 20130101; G06F 30/00 20200101; A61C 13/0004 20130101;
A61C 9/0053 20130101; A61C 9/004 20130101; G16H 20/40 20180101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/50 20060101
G06F017/50; A61C 9/00 20060101 A61C009/00; A61C 7/00 20060101
A61C007/00; A61C 11/00 20060101 A61C011/00 |
Claims
1. A method for preparing a dental appliance for a dental patient
by using a computer with a program that includes a digital dental
articulator apparatus, comprising the steps of: creating a digital
model of the patient's upper and lower teeth; using the computer
for digitally mounting the model in the digital dental articulator;
using the computer for calculating, utilizing a pre-characterized
set of rims, guiding surfaces of the patient's temporomandibular
joints by using occlusal wear surfaces between the patient's upper
and lower teeth; and preparing the dental appliance by using the
calculated guiding surfaces of the patient's temporomandibular
joints.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-characterized set of rims
is Eric's Rims.
3. The method of claim 1, where the step of calculating the guiding
surfaces comprises scanning a physical model of the teeth to create
the digital image.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating the
guiding surfaces comprises using an intraoral scan of the models of
the upper and lower teeth.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the dental appliance comprises a
bridge, crown, full arch, braces or any apparatus for adjusting the
teeth.
6. A system for preparing a dental appliance for a dental patient
comprising: a computer programmed with a model of a dental
articulator apparatus, the computer further programmed to create a
digital model of the patient's upper and lower teeth and to
digitally mount the digital model of the patient's upper and lower
teeth in the digital dental articulator, wherein the computer
calculates, utilizing a pre-characterized set of rims, guiding
surfaces of the patient's temporomandibular joints by using
occlusal wear surfaces between the patient's upper and lower teeth
such that the dental appliance can be created using the calculated
guiding surfaces of the patient's temporomandibular joints.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein calculating the guiding surfaces
comprises: creating a physical model of the teeth; scanning the
physical model to create a digital image of the model; and
calculating the guiding surfaces using the scanned model.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the digital model of the
patient's upper and lower teeth is created by using an intraoral
scan of the models of the upper and lower teeth and generating the
digital model of the teeth.
9. A method for preparing a dental appliance comprising: scanning a
model of a patient's dental arch; identifying wear surfaces using
the model dental arch; calculating temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
wear surfaces utilizing a pre-characterized set of rims and the
wear surfaces in the model dental arch; creating preparation guides
for a dental appliance to be manufactured; and sending the
preparation guides to a milling center and a dentist.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pre-characterized set of
rims is Eric's Rims.
11. The method of claim 9, where the step of calculating the
guiding surfaces comprises scanning a physical model of the teeth
to create the digital image.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of calculating the
guiding surfaces comprises using an intraoral scan of the models of
the upper and lower teeth.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the dental appliance comprises a
bridge, crown, full arch, braces or any apparatus for adjusting the
teeth.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein calculating the guiding surfaces
comprises: creating a physical model of the teeth; scanning the
physical model to create a digital image of the model; and
calculating the guiding surfaces using the scanned model.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital model of the
patient's upper and lower teeth is created by using an intraoral
scan of the models of the upper and lower teeth and generating the
digital model of the teeth.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INFORMATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/377,264 filed Aug. 7, 2014, now U.S. Pat.
No. 10,380,271 which is a 371 application of PCT/US2013/025954,
international filing date Feb. 13, 2013; which claims the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/598,708, filed Feb.
14, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in
its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved method to
manufacture dental appliances or solve for the final alignment of a
patient's teeth after a patient undergoes an orthodontic procedure.
The term appliances refer to any type of apparatus that can be used
for repairing, adjusting or replacing one or more teeth of a
patient such as, but not limited to, bridges, crowns, arches,
dentures and braces or all kinds. The invention utilizes a
mathematical approach within a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system
to generate a unique articulation method. The mathematics generate
a dynamic articulation within the CAD software from the wear
surfaces of the patient's teeth surfaces or from a unique tool
based on information from a patient's generated rim bite, called
"Eric's Rim," which is described in pending U.S. Patent Application
No. US2011/032674, which is incorporated herein as though fully set
forth. In accordance with the invention, once this articulation has
been created in a digital model, it can then be used to solve for
the patient's occlusal function. This occlusal function can be used
to engineer a restoration based on the materials prescribed by the
dentist or solve for the tooth alignment at the completion of an
orthodontic procedure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Currently, Computer Aided Design (CAD) dentistry utilizes
either a set of impression trays to make a mold of a patient's
teeth or dental arch, which is filled with plaster to create a
model of the patient's teeth. The plaster model of the patient's
teeth is then scanned using a 3D laser scanner, or optionally an
intraoral 3D scanning system can be utilized to create a digital 3D
model of the patient's teeth or dental arch. The digital models of
the upper and lower dental arch within the CAD program are then
"mounted" in a digital representation of a dental articulator to
allow the dentist or dental technician to design a crown or bridge
or orthodontic procedure. These articulators are simply digital
copies of the physical articulators currently on the market. The
dentists or the dental technician then creates the CAD dental
restoration, crown or bridge, or an orthodontic procedure to align
the patient's teeth. For dental restorations, the CAD program will
utilize a library of teeth, in some cases up to 300 different tooth
models to design a crown or multiple teeth to design a bridge or
full upper or lower dental arch. Once completed, the restoration is
sent to a milling lab to be manufactured. Once milled, the
restoration is returned to the dentist for "try-in" and fitting.
This fitting requires the dentist to match the restoration to the
patient's jaw movements and dental function or occlusion. For an
orthodontic procedure, the digital dental model is separated into
the patient's individual teeth, and the teeth are then moved in
incremental steps until the ultimate alignment is achieved. FIG. 1
is representative of a typical Dental CAD system comprised of a 3-D
Laser Scanner 10 and a computer workstation which includes a
computer 12, monitor 14 and keyboard 16. FIG. 3 shows digital model
of a typical dental articular which is used to hold models of an
upper dental arch 127 and a lower dental arch 137 and allow the
user to simulate the movement of the jaw when fabricating dental
restorations such as crowns, bridges, and dentures. Use of a
virtual articulator in conjunction with the invention is described
in greater detail below.
[0004] The purpose of a dental articulator is to simulate the jaw
or condylar movements of a patient. This instrument enables a
dentist to verify the contact points between opposing teeth for
dental restorations such as a crown or bridge or, for orthodontics,
the contact points of the tooth surfaces themselves. FIG. 2 is
representative of standard articulator used within the dental
industry, which includes upper and lower frame sections 20, 22,
which hold an articulating model formed from casts or impressions
of the upper and lower teeth of a patient (not shown),
respectively. The upper frame section is mounted to rotate about an
axis 24, linearly relative to the lower frame section. An
adjustable rod 26 can be used to maintain spacing the operator
deems to be appropriate between the upper and lower teeth.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 issued to the inventors herein,
entitled "Method and System for Morphometric Analysis of Human
Dental Occlusal Function and Uses Thereof" (hereinafter referred to
as "the '298 Patent"), demonstrates a mathematical method for
analyzing jaw motion by calculating the shape of Temporomandibular
Joint (TMJ) from the wear surfaces of at least two teeth of the
patient's upper or lower jaw. The same mathematical method can be
used to solve for the individual's dynamic occlusal function if the
shape of the TMJ has previously been solved using the U.S. Pat. No.
7,412,298, or has been measured using a scanning method such as a
CAT Scan. Pending US Patent application US2011/032674 demonstrates
a method for creating dental restorations in a similar analog
method, this method can be used to make a single crown, partials,
bridges or full dental arches, or develop a orthodontic treatment.
This patent describes a method to manufacture dental restorations
for an edentulous patient using "Eric's Rims" to record the
patient's dynamic occlusion. All of the mathematical formulations
and details of the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298,
and the details for using Eric's Rims in pending application
US2011/032674, are incorporated herein as though fully set
forth.
[0006] While there are multiple commercially available CAD systems
for the manufacture of Dental Restorations and for the development
of orthodontic treatment plans, and while these methods have been
available for some time, the methods employed do not attempt to
record or calculate each patent's particular TMJ or dynamic
occlusal function. The systems currently in place utilize digital
models of linear articulators, of the type shown in FIG. 2, which
create a linear duplication of the condylar guidance, or rely on
the static contact of the upper and lower teeth to design the
contact of wear surfaces.
[0007] Thus, there is a need for an advanced method to replicate
accurately the unique path of motion of a patient's dynamic
occlusion when creating a dental restoration in a CAD system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to an improved method for
making CAD-designed dental restorations, preparation guides or
implant guides for restorations or orthodontic treatment plans, the
tools used to make these restorations, and to a method of creating
a patient specific dental articulator within a CAD program and,
more particularly, to an improved digital articulator which allows
for accurate simulation of the jaw or condylar movements of a
patient and accurate interchangeability of digital representations
of a patients dental casts.
[0009] This process is unique in at least two aspects relating to
common dental practice: (1) there is an expectation of calculating
the balancing (non-working side) guides for registering the medial
wall of the glenoid fossa; and (2) all guidance is patient
initiated and calculated from the wear surfaces on the patient's
teeth or from patient generated bite rims or "Eric's Rims" when the
patient has no teeth, which are described in US Patent application
US2011/032674.
[0010] In the present invention, an improved digital dental
articulation method is described. A dental articulator includes a
digital or virtual model of an upper frame and a lower frame for
simulating the lower dental arch and the upper dental arch, one of
the frames having a pair of condyles mounted thereon, and a pair of
digitally adjustable condylar tables mounted on the other of the
frames.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there
is provided a method of calculating three-dimensional jaw movements
and transferring the record to a digital representation of a dental
articulator, comprises the steps of: (1) producing a standard
impression of a patient's dentition or a standard model of the
patient's upper dental arch and lower dental arch; (2) scanning the
impression or model of the upper arch and lower arch using a 3D
laser scanner; (3) importing the scans into a CAD system; (4)
identifying the occlusal wear surfaces on the tooth surfaces either
manually or automatically within the CAD program; (5) utilizing the
math described in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to calculate guiding
surfaces for the TMJ for the dental restoration, be it for
posterior teeth, the bicuspid teeth or the anterior or incisor
teeth. This method will allow for changes in tooth height so that
the CAD Operator, which may be a dentist, a Certified Dental
Technician, or other designer, can open or close the patient's bite
while still maintaining the appropriate occlusal form. Once the
guide surfaces of the tooth or teeth, have been calculated, the
restoration can be engineered to the material properties of the
material(s) chosen by the Dentist. Preparation guides can be
created to assist the Dentist when preparing the tooth or teeth for
restoration. The preparation guide will assist the Dentist in
removing the least amount of the natural dentition of the tooth or
teeth to be restored. Bone level implant guides can be created to
assist the dentist with the correct spatial placement of the
implants.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there
is provided a method whereby digital scans are captured utilizing
an intraoral scanner as opposed to capturing a scan of the
impression of the patient's dentition.
[0013] In accordance with other aspects of this invention, there is
provided a method whereby the digital scans are used to create an
orthodontic treatment plan, to develop a plan to determine the
proper placement of the bicuspids and molars to keep them in proper
occlusal function with an individual patient's TMJ.
[0014] The foregoing outlines rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention
will be described hereinafter which will form the subject of the
claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed
may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing
digital methods for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The
novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the
invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages will be better
understood from the following description when considered in
connection with the accompanying Figures. It is to be expressly
understood, however, that each of the Figures is provided for the
purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as
a definition of the limits of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a typical Dental CAD system with scanner and
computer work station.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a typical dental articulator.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows the details of a typical dental articulator as
part of a digital image.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a virtual dental articular as viewed by a CAD
operator;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the software architecture of the
current invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] As used herein, "a" or "an" means one or more than one.
[0022] The methods and apparatus of the present invention will now
be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. It should be
understood, that these are merely illustrative and not exhaustive
examples of the scope of the present invention and that variations
which are understood by those having ordinary skill in the art are
within the scope of the present invention.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, an example of a dental articulator is
shown, which is part of a digital image on a computer screen. The
dental articulator can be used to hold models of an upper dental
arch 127 and a lower dental arch 137 and allow the user to simulate
the movement of the jaw when fabricating dental restorations such
as crowns, bridges, and dentures.
[0024] The digital dental articulator 100 has an upper frame 120
and lower frame 130, which are used to mount the models of the
upper dental arch 127 and lower dental arch 137, respectively. The
model of the upper dental arch 127 is held to the arm 121 of upper
frame 120 by a digital attachment, or digital spacer. The spacer
fixes the models at the mid-place between the upper and lower
frames. The position of the upper dental arch 127 can be adjusted
within the CAD program by the CAD operator. Dental articulator 100
has a pair of posts 150 with condyles 151. Only one post 150 is
shown because of the angle of the figure, but a second post is
hidden by the one shown. Condyle 151 fits with condylar table 160
to simulate the temporal mandible joint of the patient. The condyle
can be any shape that can be used accurately to represent the
motion of the of the patient's jaw. However, most conventional
dental articulators use a spherical shaped member.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a virtual image of a dental articulator of the
type shown in FIG. 3, which illustrates how a CAD operator would
see it.
[0026] Within the CAD program, the condylar table 160 is modeled to
create the wear surface of the TMJ or "Zola's Tubercle". The shape
of this wear surface is calculated using the mathematical formulas
and methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298. The wear surface
will recreate the functional dynamics of the patient's jaw within
the CAD system. These mathematical formulas for each patient, once
created, can be stored for future reference.
[0027] Dental articulator 100 also has an incisal pin 170 and
incisal table 171. Incisal pin 170 is utilized to set the normal
distance between the upper dental arch 127 and the lower dental
arch 137.
[0028] The digital dental articulator can be used to make dental
restorations, dentures and design an orthodontic treatment plan.
The procedure for using the improved dental articulator is
described in further detail below.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 5, which is a general flow chart of the
software, the digital dental articulator can be used to make dental
restorations, such as crowns and bridges, using the any of
following methods: (1) prepare the teeth for restoration; make an
impression of the teeth; produce the upper and lower model of the
teeth; scan the upper and lower models of the teeth 410; the CAD
operator or the program will identify the wear surfaces of the
teeth 412 and, using the mathematical formulas described in the
U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298, calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ
414; CAD Operator selects the tooth or teeth to be restored 432,
CAD Operator can modify the bite 434 and then use the formulas
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to solve for the wear surfaces
of the restorations 436; using the material properties of the
materials prescribed by the dentist 438, engineer the restoration
and/or the substructure 462; and send the restoration to the
milling lab to be manufactured 464; or (2) prepare the teeth for
restoration; produce an intraoral scan of the patient's upper and
lower teeth 410; the CAD Operator or the program will identify the
wear surfaces of the teeth 412 and, using the mathematical formulas
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to calculate the guiding
surface of the TMJ 414, the CAD Operator selects the tooth or teeth
to be restored 432; the CAD Operator can modify the bite 434 then
use the formulas described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to solve for
the wear surfaces of the restorations 436; using the material
properties of the materials prescribed by the dentist 438, engineer
the restoration and/or the substructure 462; send the restoration
to the milling lab to be manufactured 464; (3) make an impression
of the teeth; produce the upper and lower model of the teeth; scan
the upper and lower models of the teeth 410; the CAD Operator or
the program will identify the wear surfaces of the teeth 412 and,
using the mathematical formulas described in U.S. Pat. No.
7,412,298 to calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ 414; CAD
Operator selects the tooth or teeth to be restored 432; CAD
Operator can modify the bite 434 then use the mathematical formulas
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to solve for the wear surfaces
of the restorations 436; using the material properties of the
materials prescribed by the dentist 438, and using the design of
the restoration to create preparation or prep guides for the
dentist 444, the preparation guides are sent to be manufactured
446; the dentist uses the preparation guides to remove the natural
dentition from the patients tooth or teeth to be restored 448;
steps 1 or 2 can be employed to create the restoration 470; (4)
produce an intraoral scan the upper and lower teeth; 410; the CAD
Operator or the program will identify the wear surfaces of the
teeth 412 and using the mathematical formulas described in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,412,298 to calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ 414;
CAD Operator selects the tooth or teeth to be restored 432; CAD
Operator can modify the bite 434 then use the mathematical formulas
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to solve for the wear surfaces
of the restorations 436; using the material properties of the
materials prescribed by the dentist 438 and using the design of the
restoration to create preparation or prep guides for the dentist
444; the preparation guides are sent to be manufactured 446; the
dentist uses the preparation guides to remove the natural dentition
from the patients tooth or teeth to be restored 448, steps 1 or 2
are employed to create the restoration 470; (5) for an orthodontic
procedure, the dentist makes an impression of the teeth producing
the upper and lower model of the teeth; scan the upper and lower
models of the teeth 410; using the formulas described in U.S. Pat.
No. 7,412,298 to calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ 412; the
CAD operator or the programmer identifies the wear surfaces of the
teeth 412 and using the formulas described in U.S. Pat. No.
7,412,298 to calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ 414; the CAD
operator identifies the molar and bicuspid wear surfaces 422 then
uses the formulas described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to solve
final position and orientation of the patient's teeth passed on the
buckle cusp's of the molars and bicuspids 424; engineer the
treatment plan to the orthodontist to move the patient's teeth to
allow for the proper final placement of the buccal cusp's of the
molar's and bicuspids 426; send the treatment plan to the
Orthodontist for review and implementation 428; or (6) the
orthodontist produces an intraoral scan of the upper and lower
teeth; 410; using the formulas described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298
to calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ 412, the CAD operator
or the program will identify the wear surfaces of the teeth 412;
using the formulas described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to
calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ 414, the CAD operator
identifies the molar and bicuspid wear surfaces 422; use the
formulas described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to solve final
position and orientation of the patient's teeth placement on the
buccal cusp's of the molars and bicuspids 424; engineer the
treatment plan to the orthodontist to move the patient's teeth to
allow for the proper final placement of the buccal cusps of the
molar's and bicuspids 426; send the treatment plan to the
Orthodontist for review and implementation 428. Further details for
these methods are described below.
[0030] The following describes the method of the present invention
for the restoration of a tooth, specifically the preparation of a
crown. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this
method can be applied to any dental restoration procedure and is
particularly useful in restorations involving multiple teeth or
restorations where a terminal tooth is missing.
[0031] The first step in applying the present invention requires
the preparation of the tooth for the restoration. Generally, the
preparation of a tooth for a crown involves the irreversible
removal of a significant amount of tooth structure. When preparing
a tooth for a crown, typically, the enamel is totally removed and
the finished preparation is, thus, entirely dentin. The amount of
tooth structure required to be removed will depend on the
material(s) being used to restore the tooth. For example, if
porcelain is applied to a metal or ceramic substructure, the entire
tooth is reduced a minimum of 1.5 mm. It is an option within the
scope of this process for the dentist to request from the
technician or the CAD operator a set of preparation guides, these
preparation guides will assist the dentist in removing the least
amount of the dentition. The CAD operator will use the models or
scans provided by the dentist and the CAD software to create a
preliminary restoration that will allow for the creation of the
preparation guides. This same process for creating preparation
guides can be employed to create a restoration plan to place bone
level implants.
[0032] After the tooth is prepared, a standard impression of the
dentition is made, allowing accurate models of the teeth to be made
later. An impression is carried out by placing a putty material
into the mouth in a customized tray. The material then sets
(hardens) to become an elastic solid, and when removed from the
mouth, retains the shape of the teeth. Common materials used for
dental impressions include, but are not limited to, sodium
alginate, agar, condensation-cured silicones, and addition-cured
silicones such as polyvinyl siloxane. The impressions are then used
to generate the models of the patient's teeth. Models of the upper
and lower dental arches are then scanned using a 3D laser scanner
or other scanning method. These scans are then transferred or
imported into the dental CAD program. An alternative method is to
directly scan the natural and prepared dentition and import these
scans into the CAD program.
[0033] Once the models of the upper and lower dental arches are
scanned and imported into the CAD program, either the CAD operator
or the CAD software will identify the wear surfaces of the teeth of
either the upper or lower arch. The software will then solve for
the guiding surfaces of the TMJ or "Zola's Tubercle". Once solved,
the CAD operator will then identify the teeth for which the
restoration will be created. The software will then calculate the
wear surface of the tooth or teeth to be designed. The models can
be "mounted" in the digital articulator to simulate the movement of
the patients jaw function so as to verify the occlusal
function.
[0034] The digital dental articulator can also be used to make
dentures or full restorations for edentulous patients, or those who
have no teeth. The steps to make dentures or full restorations
using the improved dental articulator are similar to the steps used
to make dental restorations, except the patient's occlusal function
is recorded using Eric's Rims. The method of using Eric's Rims is
disclosed in pending US Patent Application US2011/032674. Once the
occlusal function is created using Eric's Rims, a 3-D scan of the
rims is created using a 3-D scanner. The scans are then imported
into the CAD program. The software will then solve for the guiding
surface of the TMJ or "Zola's Tubercle". The software then can
place the teeth into function to meet the patient's occlusal
function for either the denture or the full restoration.
[0035] Once the dental restorations have been designed within the
CAD software, they will be sent to be manufactured or milled. After
they are manufactured, they will be returned to the dentist for
placement, i.e., "seating".
[0036] Generally, the digital dental articulator can be used to
develop a orthodontic treatment plan, using the either of following
steps: making an impression of the teeth; producing the upper and
lower model of the teeth; scan the upper and lower models of the
teeth; using the mathematical formulas described in the U.S. Pat.
No. 7,412,298 to calculate the guiding surface of the TMJ; using
the mathematical formulas described in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298
to develop the treatment plan to determine the placement of the
bicuspids and molars to keep them in proper occlusal function with
that individual patient's TMJ. Alternatively, the digital dental
articular can be used with the following procedure: preparing the
teeth for restoration; producing an intraoral scan of the upper and
lower models of the teeth; using the mathematical formulas
described in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to calculate the guiding
surface of the TMJ; using the mathematical formulas described in
the U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,298 to develop the treatment plan to
determine the placement of the bicuspids and molar to keep them in
proper occlusal function with that individual patient's TMJ.
[0037] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the
process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the
disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,
presently existing or later to be developed that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be
utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to include within their scope such
processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,
methods, or steps.
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