Method for manipulating a dental virtual model, method for creating physical entities based on a dental virtual model thus manipulated, and dental models thus created
A 3D virtual model of an intra oral cavity in which at least a part of a finish line of a preparation is obscured is manipulated in virtual space by means of a computer or the like to create, recreate or reconstruct finish line data and other geometrical corresponding to the obscured part. Trimmed virtual models, and trimmed physical models, can then be created utilizing data thus created. The virtual models and/or the physical models may be used in the design and manufacture of copings or of prostheses.
1. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
generate a 3D virtual model of the intraoral structure of the patient based on first 3D data generated from an intraoral scan of focused light on a surface of the intraoral structure of the patient;
determine a first portion of the 3D virtual model that is missing a portion of the intraoral structure of the patient, wherein the first portion of the 3D virtual model includes 3D data of obscuring material that obscures the portion of the intraoral structure of the patient that is missing;
generate second 3D data representing the portion of the intraoral structure of the patient that is missing and that the obscuring material obscured;
combine the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model such that the 3D virtual model includes a representation of the portion of the intraoral structure of the patient that is missing in place of the first portion.
2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that cause the processor to generate the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing, causes the processor to generate the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing in an automated matter.
3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing forms an incomplete closed geometrical form.
4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that cause the processor to generate second 3D data, causes the processor to generate second 3D data in an automated manner.
5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the 3D data includes a representation of a prepared tooth.
6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the second 3D data is generated based on the 3D virtual model.
7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the second 3D data is generated based on a cross-sectional profile of the 3D virtual model.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the 3D virtual model comprises an obscured portion of a finish line.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that cause the processor to combine the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model includes instructions that cause the processor to create a second 3D virtual model including data representative of an unobscured finish line.
10. A system for generating missing data for 3D models of intraoral structures of a patient, the system comprising:
a hand-held intraoral scanner;
a computer having instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
scan, using the hand-held intraoral scanner, the intraoral structure of a patient to generate first 3D data of the surface of the intraoral structure of the patient;
generate a 3D virtual model of the intraoral structure of the patient based on the first 3D data, wherein the first portion of the 3D virtual model includes 3D data of obscuring material that is obscuring the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing;
determine a first portion of the 3D virtual model that are missing a portion of the intraoral structure of the patient;
generate second 3D data representing portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing and that the obscuring material obscured;
combine the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model such that the 3D virtual model includes a representation of the portion of the intraoral structure of the patient that is missing in place of the first portion.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions that that cause the processor to generate the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing, causes the processor to generate the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing in an automated matter.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions that cause the system to generate second 3D data, causes the processor to generate second 3D data in an automated manner.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the intraoral structure of the of the patient that is missing forms an incomplete closed geometrical form.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions that cause the system to determine the first portion includes instructions to determine that a portion of the 3D virtual model does not complete a close geometrical form.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the 3D data includes a representation of a prepared tooth.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second 3D data is generated based on the 3D virtual model.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the 3D virtual model includes 3D data of obscuring material.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first 3D virtual model comprises an obscured portion of a finish line.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions that cause the system to combine the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model includes instructions that cause the system to create a second 3D virtual model including data representative of an unobscured finish line.