Reduction or guidance coping

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a reduction coping, comprising:

receiving a digital model comprising a virtual preparation tooth;

determining one or more virtual reduction regions on the virtual preparation tooth;

generating a virtual reduction coping comprising one or more exposed regions corresponding to the one or more virtual reduction regions;

and

generating a virtual handle affixed to the virtual reduction coping.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a physical reduction coping and physical handle from the virtual reduction coping and the virtual handle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual handle comprises at least one identifier region.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining one or more necessary virtual reduction regions comprises detecting an insufficient clearance between one or more surfaces of the virtual preparation tooth and one or more other dental features.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising detecting an insufficient virtual occlusal clearance.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the detecting an insufficient virtual occlusal clearance comprises determining that a virtual occlusal clearance between one or more virtual preparation tooth occlusal surfaces and one or more virtual opposing tooth occlusal surfaces is less than a minimum required occlusal clearance.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the minimum required occlusal clearance comprises a minimum restoration thickness.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the computer-implemented method determines the minimum restoration thickness automatically based on a restoration type selected.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the minimum required occlusal clearance further comprises an adhesive thickness.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining a total virtual reduction amount necessary to satisfy the minimum required occlusal clearance.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the total virtual reduction amount is a difference between the virtual occlusal clearance and the minimum required occlusal clearance.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying a GUI element to the user to allow adjusting a distribution of the total virtual reduction amount between a virtual preparation tooth reduction amount and a virtual opposing tooth reduction amount.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a virtual margin around the virtual preparation tooth.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining one or more necessary virtual reduction regions comprises detecting an insufficient path of insertion between one or more side surface regions of the virtual preparation tooth and the virtual margin boundary.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the virtual preparation tooth side surface regions to reduce are part of the virtual preparation tooth reduction regions.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising virtually reducing the virtual preparation tooth reduction regions by a virtual preparation tooth reduction amount and virtually reducing the virtual preparation tooth side surface regions by a virtual preparation tooth side surface reduction amount.

17. A method of generating a physical reduction coping, comprising:

receiving a 3D digital model of a virtual reduction coping; and

performing additive manufacturing to generate a physical reduction coping from the virtual reduction coping,

wherein the physical reduction coping comprises an integrated physical handle.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein performing additive manufacturing comprises 3D printing the physical reduction coping.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the integrated physical handle comprises an identifier.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the physical reduction coping comprises one or more exposed regions corresponding to one or more virtual preparation tooth reduction regions.