Technologies for merging three-dimensional models of dental impressions
Technologies for merging three-dimensional models of dental impressions include a computing device that generates multiple three-dimensional models that are each indicative of a dental impression of a user's dental arch. The models may be generated by scanning the dental impressions. The computing device determines whether a model is indicative of the complete anatomy of the user's arch and, if not, merges multiple models with a merge strategy to generate a merged model. The models may be merged by aligning geometry of the models, selecting geometry from one of the models using the merge strategy, and generating the merged model that includes the selected geometry. The merge strategy may include selecting from the model associated with the dental impression that includes the most detail of the user's anatomy or selecting from the model with the greatest depth.
1. A computing device for dental impression scan merging, the computing device comprising:
a model manager configured to generate a first model and a second model, wherein the first model comprises a three-dimensional model indicative of a first dental impression of a user's dental arch, and wherein the second model comprises a three dimensional model indicative of a second dental impression of the user's dental arch, wherein the first dental impression and the second dental impression are impressions of the same dental arch of the user;
a scan dispositioner configured to determine whether the first model is indicative of a complete anatomy of the user's dental arch;
a merge manager configured to merge the first model and the second model to generate a merged model in response to a determination that the first model is not indicative of the complete anatomy of the user's dental arch, wherein merging the first model and the second model comprises:
selecting a selected geometry from the first model or the second model, wherein the selected geometry is associated with a common anatomical location in the user's dental arch; and
generating the merged model in response to identification of the selected geometry, wherein the merged model includes the selected geometry; and
a manufacturing manager configured to use the merged model for manufacturing a plurality of dental aligners specific to the user's dental arch and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the scan dispositioner is further configured to determine whether the merged model is indicative of the complete anatomy of the user's dental arch;
the model manager is further configured to generate a third model in response to a determination that the merged model is not indicative of the complete anatomy, wherein the third model comprises a three-dimensional model indicative of a third dental impression of the user's dental arch; and
the merge manager is further configured to merge the first model, the second model, and the third model to generate a second merged model.
3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein selecting the selected geometry from the first model or the second model comprises:
determining whether the first dental impression includes more detail associated with the common anatomical location than the second dental impression; and
selecting the selected geometry from the first model in response to a determination that the first dental impression includes more detail.
4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein selecting the selected geometry from the first model or the second model comprises:
determining whether the first model includes greater depth associated with the common anatomical location than the second model; and
selecting the selected geometry from the first model in response to a determination that the first model includes greater depth.
5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein merging the first model and the second model further comprises cleaning the merged model to generate a closed surface.
6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein merging the first model and the second model further comprises generating a plurality of merged models.
7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the merge manager is further configured to select the merged model from the plurality of merged models in response to the merging of the first model and the second model.
8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein selecting the merged model comprises:
presenting the plurality of merged models to a technician; and
receiving a selection of the merged model from among the plurality of merged models from the technician in response to the presentation of the plurality of merged models.
9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:
generating the first model comprises scanning the first dental impression; and
generating the second model comprises scanning the second dental impression.
10. A method for dental impression scan merging, the method comprising:
generating, by a computing device, a first model and a second model, wherein the first model comprises a three-dimensional model indicative of a first dental impression of a user's dental arch and the second model comprises a three-dimensional model indicative of a second dental impression of the user's dental arch, wherein the first dental impression and the second dental impression are impressions of the same dental arch of the user;
determining, by the computing device, whether either of the first model and the second model are indicative of a complete anatomy of the user's dental arch;
merging, by the computing device, the first model and the second model to generate a merged model in response to determining that the first model and the second model are not indicative of the complete anatomy of the user's dental arch, wherein merging the first model and the second model comprises:
selecting a selected geometry from the first model or the second model, wherein the selected geometry is associated with a common anatomical location in the user's dental arch; and
generating the merged model in response to identifying the selected geometry, wherein the merged model includes the selected geometry; and
manufacturing a positive model of the user's dental arch, wherein the positive model is used in manufacturing a dental aligner specific to the user's dental arch and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining, by the computing device, whether the merged model is indicative of the complete anatomy of the user's dental arch;
generating, by the computing device, a third model in response to determining that the merged model is not indicative of the complete anatomy, wherein the third model comprises a three-dimensional model indicative of a third dental impression of the user's dental arch; and
merging, by the computing device, the first model, the second model, and the third model to generate a second merged model.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting the selected geometry from the first model or the second model comprises:
determining whether the first dental impression includes more detail associated with the common anatomical location than the second dental impression; and
selecting the selected geometry from the first model in response to determining that the first dental impression includes more detail.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting the selected geometry from the first model or the second model comprises:
determining whether the first model includes greater depth associated with the common anatomical location than the second model; and
selecting the selected geometry from the first model in response to determining the first model includes greater depth.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein merging the first model and the second model further comprises merging the first model and the second model using a plurality of merge strategies to generate a plurality of merged models.
15. A method for dental impression scan merging, the method comprising:
generating, by a computing device, a first model and a second model, the first model comprising a three-dimensional model of an initial dental impression of a dental arch of a user, the second model comprising a three-dimensional model of a redundant dental impression of the dental arch of the user, the initial dental impression and the redundant dental impression are impressions of the same dental arch of the user;
determining, by the computing device, whether either of the first model and the second model are indicative of a complete anatomy of the dental arch of the user;
merging, by the computing device, the first model and the second model to generate a merged model in response to determining that the first model and the second model are not indicative of the complete anatomy of the dental arch of the user, wherein merging the first model and the second model comprises at least one of (1) aligning one or more common points on the first model and the second model and (2) using a best fit algorithm that compares a geometry of the first model and a geometry of the second model;
manufacturing a positive model of the dental arch of the user based on the merged model; and
manufacturing a dental aligner using the positive model, the dental aligner being specific to the dental arch of the user and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising scanning the initial dental impression and the redundant dental impression with a scanning device to acquire information necessary to generate the first model and the second model.