Interactive orthodontic care system based on intra-oral scanning of teeth
Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance. A variety of possible appliance and appliance manufacturing systems are contemplated, including customized archwires and customized devices for placement of off-the shelf brackets on the archwires, and removable orthodontic appliances.
1. A method of generating a 3-dimensional virtual model of a bite for a patient, comprising the steps of:
obtaining individual virtual tooth models for teeth of a patient in upper jaw and in lower jaw;
scanning surface of said teeth of said patient in a clenched condition thereby generating a series of frames of images of said scanned surface; and
registering said frames using a frame-to-frame registration algorithm with said individual virtual tooth models; thereby generating said 3-dimensional virtual model of said bite for said patient.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said scanning is performed in-vivo.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said scanning is performed by a hand-held scanner.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said hand-held scanner is adapted for intra-oral scanning and comprises a light source, an electronic imaging device and a pattern source, said light source projecting a pattern onto said dentition, said electronic imaging device converting incident radiation into a two dimensional image of the pattern as reflected from said dentition.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said hand-held scanner further comprises a continuous illumination light source providing general illumination of the dentition during scanning.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said scanning is performed using a CAT scan.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said 3-dimensional virtual model is refined using a cumulative registration algorithm.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said 3-dimensional virtual model comprises two or more segments, and wherein said segments are registered using a segment registration algorithm.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a clipping plane is utilized in order to view a cross-section of said 3-dimensional virtual model of said bite.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein viewing said cross-section enables inspecting contact points between said teeth in the upper jaw and in the lower jaw.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a user can adjust said 3-dimensional virtual model of said bite.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a user can move or rotate said teeth in the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a user can simulate a chewing motion of said teeth in the upper jaw and the lower jaw.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein during the simulation the lower jaw moves from side to side and up and down to simulate a chewing motion.