Unified three dimensional virtual craniofacial and dentition model and uses thereof

1. A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient having tooth-roots abnormalities, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient using a volume scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises said patient's teeth with three-dimensional crowns, three-dimensional roots and three-dimensional upper and lower jaw bones;

(c) identifying said tooth-roots abnormalities from said three dimensional virtual model; and

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said tooth-roots abnormalities.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tooth-roots abnormalities comprise one or more tooth-roots entangled with one or more different tooth-roots; and wherein said corrective treatment steps comprise repositioning said teeth in a step-wise manner such that said treatment steps enable un-entangling of said tooth-roots.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tooth-roots abnormalities comprise one or more tooth-roots or portion(s) thereof placed out-side of said upper or lower jaw bones of said patient as applicable; and wherein said corrective treatment steps comprise repositioning said teeth, in a step-wise manner, such that said tooth-roots are completely contained in such bones as desired.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein upper and lower gingiva are integrated within said three dimensional virtual model of craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient; and wherein shape of said upper and lower gingiva is adjusted as desired thereby enabling curing said tooth-roots abnormalities.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein orthodontic appliances are designed for assisting in curing said tooth-roots abnormalities.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said orthodontic appliances include one or more orthodontic brackets.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said orthodontic appliances include one or more sets of aligners.

8. The method of claim 5 or 6 , wherein said orthodontic appliances include one or more orthodontic archwires.

9. A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient having tooth-appearance abnormalities, tooth shape anomalies, fractured anatomy, loss of structure, loss of one or more teeth, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient using a volume scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises said patient's teeth with three-dimensional crowns, three-dimensional roots and three-dimensional upper and lower jaw bones;

(c) identifying said tooth-appearance abnormalities; and

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said tooth-appearance abnormalities; and corrective restorative and implant treatment to cure said loss of one or more teeth.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said tooth-appearance abnormalities comprise one or more teeth of said patient having sizes smaller than desired; and wherein said corrective treatment steps are to increase size or change form of each of said one or more teeth to said desired size.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said tooth-appearance abnormalities comprise one or more teeth of said patient having sizes larger than desired; and wherein said corrective treatment steps are to decrease said size or form of each of said one or more teeth to said desired size.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said tooth-appearance abnormalities comprise one or more teeth of said patient having shapes other than desired; and wherein said corrective treatment steps are to reshape each of said one or more teeth to said desired shape.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said tooth-appearance abnormalities comprise one or more teeth of said patient having undesirable sizes and shapes; and wherein said corrective treatment steps are to resize and reshape each of said one or more teeth to said desired size and shape.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said tooth-appearance abnormalities comprise one or more teeth of said patient having one or more line angles misplaced on said one or more teeth; and wherein said corrective treatment steps are to properly restore each of said one or more of line angles.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein said tooth-appearance abnormalities comprise one or more teeth of said patient having one or more points misplaced on said one or more teeth; and wherein said corrective treatment steps are to properly place each of said one or more misplaced points.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein tooth anatomy, size and form can be restored based upon a template tooth from a library of said template teeth.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein tooth anatomy, size and form can be restored based upon a similar tooth in said patient's mouth.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein tooth anatomy, size and form can be restored based upon a mirror image of non-affected side of said tooth of said patient.

19. A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient having tooth-appearance abnormalities, tooth shape anomalies, fractured anatomy, loss of structure, loss of tooth, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning dentition of said patient using an in-vivo or an invitro surface scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said dentition of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said dentition of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises said patient's teeth with three-dimensional crowns;

(c) identifying said tooth-appearance abnormalities, tooth shape anomalies, fractured anatomy, loss of structure, loss of tooth;

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said tooth-appearance abnormalities, tooth shape anomalies, fractured anatomy, loss of structure, loss of tooth;

(e) designing device to correct said tooth-appearance abnormalities, tooth shape anomalies, fractured anatomy, loss of structure, loss of tooth; and

(f) sending data to for manufacturing said device.

20. A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient having soft tissue abnormalities, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning soft tissue structure of said patient using a volume scanner and/or an in-vivo or invitro scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said soft tissue structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said soft tissue structure of said patient from said digital images;

(c) identifying said soft tissue abnormalities from said three dimensional virtual model of said soft tissue structure of said patient;

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said soft tissue abnormalities;

(e) designing device to correct said soft tissue abnormalities; and

(f) sending data for manufacturing said device.

21. A method of planning treatment for a patient having one or more root abnormalities, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient using a volume scanner and/or a surface scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises said patient's teeth with three-dimensional crowns, three-dimensional roots, three-dimensional upper and lower jaw bones and soft tissue;

(c) diagnosing said root abnormalities;

wherein said diagnosed root abnormalities have an impact on:

(i) one or more other roots; and/or

(ii) bone; and/or

(iii) soft tissue;

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said diagnosed root abnormalities; wherein said corrective treatment steps comprise one or more of following: (A) orthodontic treatment, (B) surgical treatment, (C) periodontal treatment, (D) endodontic treatment, and (E) restorative treatment;

(e) designing one or more devices to correct said root abnormalities; and

(f) sending data to a facility for manufacturing said one or more devices.

22. A method of planning treatment for a patient having one or more alveolar bone abnormalities or defects, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient using a volume scanner and/or a surface scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises a three dimensional virtual model of bone, teeth with crowns and roots, and/or soft tissue of said patient;

(c) diagnosing said bone defects and abnormalities;

wherein said diagnosed bone abnormalities and/or defects have an impact on:

(i) one or more roots; and/or

(ii) soft tissue; and/or

(iii) adjacent bone;

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said diagnosed bone abnormalities and/or defects; wherein said corrective treatment steps comprise one or more of following: (A) orthodontic treatment, (B) surgical treatment, (C) periodontal treatment, (D) restorative treatment, (E) endodontic treatment, and (F) prosthodontic treatment;

(e) designing one or more devices to correct said bone abnormalities and/or defects; and

(f) sending data to a facility for manufacturing said one or more devices.

23. A method of planning treatment for a patient having one or more gingival tissue abnormalities or defects, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient using a volume scanner and/or a surface scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises a three dimensional virtual model of bone, teeth with crowns and roots, and/or gingival tissue, of said patient;

(c) diagnosing said gingival defects and abnormalities;

wherein said diagnosed gingival abnormalities and/or defects have an impact on:

(iv) one or more roots; and/or

(v) adjacent soft tissue; and/or

(vi) bone; and/or tooth crown,

(d) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said diagnosed gingival abnormalities and/or defects; wherein said corrective treatment steps comprise one or more of following: (A) orthodontic treatment, (B) surgical treatment, (C) periodontal treatment; (D) restorative treatment;

(e) designing one or more devices to correct said gingival abnormalities and/or defects; and

(f) sending data to a facility for manufacturing said one or more devices.

24. A method of planning an optimal treatment for a patient having one or more craniofacial and/or dental abnormalities or defects, comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient using a volume scanner and/or a surface scanner, thereby obtaining digital images of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient;

(b) creating a three dimensional virtual model of said craniofacial and dentition structure of said patient from said digital images, wherein said three dimensional virtual model comprises said patient's teeth with three-dimensional crowns and three-dimensional roots and three-dimensional upper and lower jaw bones;

(c) diagnosing said craniofacial and/or dental abnormalities and/or defects; wherein said diagnosed abnormalities and/or defects require a combination of one or more treatment types;

wherein said treatment types comprise one or more from following treatment types; (A) orthodontic, (B) oral surgery, (c) restorative dentistry, (d) periodontal surgery, (E) endodontics, (F) plastic surgery;

(d) evaluating different treatment options from view point of:

(i) treatment priority;

(ii) patient desires;

(iii) doctor skills;

(iv) timeliness of care;

(v) treatment cost;

(vi) degree of invasiveness;

(vi) effectiveness;

(e) planning corrective treatment steps to cure said diagnosed gingival abnormalities and/or defects; wherein said corrective treatment steps comprise one or more of following: (A) orthodontic treatment, (B) surgical treatment, (C) periodontal treatment; (D) restorative treatment;

(f) designing one or more devices to correct said gingival abnormalities and/or defects; and

(g) sending data to a facility for manufacturing said one or more devices.