Unified three dimensional virtual craniofacial and dentition model and uses thereof
A method and apparatus are disclosed enabling an orthodontist or a user to create an unified three dimensional virtual craniofacial and dentition model of actual, as-is static and functional anatomy of a patient, from data representing facial bone structure; upper jaw and lower jaw; facial soft tissue; teeth including crowns and roots; information of the position of the roots relative to each other; and relative to the facial bone structure of the patient; obtained by scanning as-is anatomy of craniofacial and dentition structures of the patient with a volume scanning device; and data representing three dimensional virtual models of the patient's upper and lower gingiva, obtained from scanning the patient's upper and lower gingiva either (a) with a volume scanning device, or (a) with a surface scanning device. Such craniofacial and dentition models of the patient can be used in optimally planning treatment of a patient.
1. Apparatus for creating and viewing three dimensional virtual model comprising:
a workstation storing data representing a unified three dimensional virtual craniofacial and dentition model of actual, as-is static and functional anatomy of a patient, the data comprising:
(a) data representing facial bone structure of said patient including upper jaw and lower jaw;
(b) data representing facial soft tissue of said patient;
(c) data representing teeth including crowns and roots of said patient, data including information of position of said roots relative to each other and relative to said facial bone structure of said patient including said upper jaw and said lower jaw;
wherein said data representing parts (a), (b) and (c) of said unified three dimensional virtual craniofacial and dentition model of said patient are constructed solely from digital data obtained by scanning as-is anatomy of craniofacial and dentition structures of said patient with a volume scanning device;
(d) data representing three dimensional virtual models of said patient's upper and lower gingiva, wherein said data represent three dimensional virtual models of said patient's upper and lower gingiva are constructed from scanning said patient's upper and lower gingiva either (i) with a volume scanning device, or (ii) with a surface scanning device; subsequently associating said data (d) with said data (c); and
(e) data representing function of said patient's jaw movements and smile; wherein said data representing function of said patient's jaw movements and smile are obtained through video imaging, jaw tracking, or photographs;
wherein data (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are represented as individual static and/or dynamic anatomical object(s) of said patient; and
software instructions comprising instructions for registration and for viewing data (a), (b) (c), (d) and (e) on a display of said workstation wherein data (a), (b) (c), (d) and (e) can be displayed individually or in any combination on command of a user of said workstation using said software instructions;
wherein said registration is made at three levels: (i) with orientation of face of said patient, (ii) with orientation of any component soft tissue to teeth or bone by using appropriate reference planes that are user defined or anatomically defined, and (iii) with bite registration.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said volume scanning device comprises a cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scanner.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said volume scanning device comprises an ultra-sound scanner.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said volume scanning device comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner or a fMRI scanner.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said surface scanning device is an optical scanner.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said surface scanning device comprises a ultra sound scanner.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said surface scanning device comprises a camera.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said function capturing device comprises a video camera.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said function capturing device comprises a telemetric jaw tracking device.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said as-is anatomy of said patient includes one or more dental borne appliances, one or more bone borne appliances, or one or more soft tissue borne appliances or any combination thereof.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said dental borne appliance can be an appliance from any of the following categories: brackets, dental restorations, dental prosthesis or endodontic root posts.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said bone borne appliance can be an appliance from any of the following categories: implants, temporary anchorage devices, bone screws, fixation plates, or condylar prosthesis.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said soft tissue borne appliance can be an appliance from any of the following categories: obturators, and soft tissue implants or prosthesis.