Methods for simulating orthodontic treatment
Methods for simulating orthodontic treatment are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes capturing a first representation, the first representation including a depiction of a patient's teeth. The method can include building a parametric model of the patient's teeth based on the first representation, using one or more case-specific parameters for one or more shapes associated with at least one of the patient's teeth. The method can also include simulating an outcome of a dental treatment plan for the patient's teeth to produce a simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan. The method can further include modifying the parametric model to provide a modified model representing the simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan.
1. A method of simulating orthodontic treatment, the method comprising:
capturing a first representation, the first representation comprising a depiction of a patient's teeth;
building a parametric model of the patient's teeth based on the first representation, using one or more case-specific parameters for one or more shapes associated with at least one of the patient's teeth;
simulating an outcome of a dental treatment plan for the patient's teeth to produce a simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan; and
modifying the parametric model to provide a modified model representing the simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein building the parametric model includes:
finding edges of teeth and lips in the first representation;
aligning a parametric tooth model to the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation to determine the one or more case-specific parameters; and
storing the one or more case-specific parameters of the parametric tooth model that align the parametric tooth model with the edges of the teeth, and lips in the first representation.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
executing a maximization step using a small angle approximation to linearize a transformation of teeth in the parametric tooth model; and
executing an expectation step to determine a probability that a projection of a silhouette of the parametric tooth model matches the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of determining a probability that the projection of the silhouette of the parametric tooth model matches the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of coarsely aligning the parametric tooth model to the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more case-specific parameters are stored on non-volatile storage.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
rendering, using the modified model, a second representation representing the patient's face, the second representation representing the patient's teeth in accordance with the simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second representation is rendered on a screen for viewing.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein rendering the second representation includes:
accessing the parametric model of the patient's teeth;
projecting one or more teeth positions from the first representation onto the parametric model;
mapping color data from the first representation to corresponding locations on the parametric model to generate textures for the parametric model; and
using the textures as part of the second representation of the patient's face.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second representation representing the patient's teeth comprises the patient's teeth in a predetermined position.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined position is based on an average position of a plurality of previous patients' teeth after dental treatment.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined position is based on an average position of a plurality of previous patients' teeth before dental treatment.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
finding edges of teeth and lips in the first representation; and
aligning a parametric tooth model to the edges of the teeth, and lips in the first representation.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of coarsely aligning the parametric tooth model to the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
executing a maximization step using a small angle approximation to linearize a transformation of teeth in the parametric tooth model; and
executing an expectation step to determine a probability that a projection of a silhouette of the parametric tooth model matches the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of determining a probability that the projection of the silhouette of the parametric tooth model matches the edges of the teeth and lips in the first representation.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first representation comprises a profile image representing a profile of the patient's face.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan comprises an estimated outcome of the dental treatment plan.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan comprises an intended outcome of the dental treatment plan.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first representation is captured using an image capture system.