Method and system for fabricating a wax model of a dental coping configured to fit a tooth preparation
View Patent ↗A wax model of a required coping is produced using CNC machining techniques based on a virtual model of the coping created from digital data obtained from the intraoral cavity. The dental coping is then fabricated from the wax model.
1. A computer-implemented method for providing fabrication data useful in the fabrication of a wax model of a dental coping configured to fit a tooth preparation, the method comprising:
receiving a three-dimensional (3D) virtual model of a patient's intraoral cavity comprising the tooth preparation;
receiving a user input command to define a finish line on the 3D virtual model of the tooth preparation;
generating a 3D virtual model of a dental coping based on the finish line and having an inner surface and an external surface offset from the inner surface, the inner surface being configured to fit over at least a portion of the tooth preparation, the external surface of the dental coping being disposed between the inner surface of the dental coping and an external surface of a tooth prosthesis;
generating a computerized numerical control (CNC) set of wax fabrication instructions based on the 3D virtual model of the dental coping;
outputting fabrication data comprising the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions for fabricating the wax model of the dental coping by a milling machine; and
fabricating the wax model based on the fabrication data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity includes data representing the surface topology of the tooth preparation.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tooth preparation comprises one or more tooth stumps or pivots.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity comprises data representing the patient's upper jaw, the patient's lower jaw, and an occlusion relationship between the patient's upper jaw and the patient's lower jaw.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity comprises a partial dentition or a complete dentition of the patient.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tooth prosthesis is a crown prosthesis or a bridge prosthesis.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity is obtained at least in part by scanning the patient's intraoral cavity with an optical scanner.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the optical scanner comprises a probe for determining three dimensional structure by confocal focusing of an array of light beams.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating the milling machine to fabricate the wax model of the dental coping.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions further correspond to the external surface of the 3D virtual model of the dental coping.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the finish line is defined in a manual or a semi-automated manner.
12. A system for fabricating a wax model of a dental coping configured to fit a tooth preparation, the system comprising:
a computer comprising storage media comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to,
receive a three-dimensional (3D) virtual model of a patient's intraoral cavity comprising the tooth preparation,
receive a user input command to define a finish line on the 3D virtual model of the tooth preparation,
generate a 3D virtual model of a dental coping based on the finish line and having an inner surface and an external surface offset from the inner surface, the inner surface being configured to fit over at least a portion of the tooth preparation, the external surface of the dental coping being disposed between the inner surface of the dental coping and an external surface of a tooth prosthesis,
generate a computerized numerical control (CNC) set of wax fabrication instructions corresponding to the 3D virtual model of the dental coping, and
output fabrication data comprising the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions for fabricating a wax model of the dental coping by a milling machine; and
a wax model fabricated based on the fabrication data.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity includes data representing the surface topology of the tooth preparation.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tooth preparation comprises one or more tooth stumps or pivots.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity comprises data representing the patient's upper jaw, the patient's lower jaw, and an occlusion relationship between the patient's upper jaw and the patient's lower jaw.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity comprises a partial dentition or a complete dentition of the patient.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tooth prosthesis is a crown prosthesis or a bridge prosthesis.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the 3D virtual model of the patient's intraoral cavity is obtained at least in part by scanning the patient's intraoral cavity with an optical scanner.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the optical scanner comprises a probe for determining three dimensional structure by confocal focusing of an array of light beams.
20. The system of claim 12 , the storage media further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to activate the milling machine to fabricate the wax model of the dental coping.
21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the finish line is defined in a manual or a semi-automated manner.