Systems and methods for substituting virtual dental appliances

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing virtual treatment using one or more dental appliances by receiving a digital model of a dental appliance; selecting a standard position and orientation; and mapping the digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation.

1 . A method for performing virtual treatment using one or more dental appliances, comprising:
 receiving a digital model of a dental appliance;   selecting a standard position and orientation for the dental appliance in relation to a tooth model; and   mapping the digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation, wherein the mapping comprises setting a plurality of digital models to the standard position and orientation.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising wherein the mapping comprises setting a plurality of digital models to the standard spatial position and orientation. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising placing a digital model of a first dental appliance on the tooth model. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising interchanging the first dental appliance with a second dental appliance. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising automatically placing the second dental appliance at the same position as the first dental appliance. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising scanning a dental appliance to create the digital model. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising selecting a base object to determine the standard position and orientation. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the base object is one of the dental appliances. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the base object is a separate object. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising selecting a coordinate system as the basis for the standard position and orientation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the standard position and orientation is determined using predetermined dimensions and features on the dental appliances. 
   
   
       12 . A method for performing virtual treatment using one or more dental appliances, comprising:
 receiving a digital model of a dental appliance;   selecting a standard position and orientation for the dental appliance in relation to a tooth model; and   mapping the digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation;   wherein the standard position and orientation is determined using predetermined dimensions and features on the dental appliances.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the slot comprises an 0.018″ (0.46 mm) or 0.022″ (0.56 mm) width channel running in a mesiodistal direction. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one dimension comprises a slot length. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one dimension comprises a slot point. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one dimension comprises a base point. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising associating the digital model of the appliance with reference to the standard position and orientation. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dental appliance is a bracket. 
   
   
       19 . A method for performing virtual treatment using one or more dental appliances, comprising:
 receiving a digital model of a dental appliance;   selecting a standard position and orientation for the dental appliance in relation to a tooth model; and   mapping the digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation;   wherein the dental appliance is a bracket.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising interchanging the dental appliances in accordance with specified criteria. 
   
   
       21 . A method for performing virtual treatment using one or more dental appliances, comprising:
 receiving a first digital model of a dental appliance and a second digital model of a dental appliance;   selecting a standard position and orientation for the first dental appliance in relation to a tooth model;   mapping the first digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation;   mapping the second digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation digitally placing the first digital model in conjunction with a digital representation of a tooth or an orthodontic appliance: and   interchanging the second dental appliance with the first dental appliance.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising mapping an axis direction for the digital model. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising generating a template to place the dental appliance on a tooth. 
   
   
       24 . A method for performing; virtual treatment using one or more dental appliances, comprising;
 receiving a digital model of a dental appliance;   selecting a standard position and orientation for the dental appliance in relation to a tooth model;   mapping the digital model of the dental appliance to the standard position and orientation: and   generating a template to place the dental appliance on a tooth.   
   
   
       25 . A method for use in virtual treatment of teeth using appliances, comprising:
 providing a digital model of each of a plurality of different dental appliances; and   mapping the digital models of the different dental appliances based on at least one common feature element of each dental appliance so that each of the digital models of the different dental appliances, once positioned in relation to a digital representation of a tooth or other dental appliance, can be respectively replaced, by reference to the common feature element, by a different digital model that will be positioned in the same spatial position and orientation as the original digital model.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the digital models are mapped based on at least one common feature element of each dental appliance and an orientation in a three-dimensional coordinate system.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the digital model is replaced by reference to the common feature element and the orientation of the dental appliances in the three-dimensional coordinate system.   
   
   
       28 . A method for use in virtual treatment of teeth using appliances, comprising:
 providing a digital model of each of a plurality of different dental appliances;   mapping the digital models of the different dental appliances based on at least one common feature element of each dental appliance;   digitally placing a first one of the digital models in conjunction with a digital representation of a tooth or an orthodontic appliance; and   replacing the first digital model with a second digital model.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the replacing step comprises placing the second digital model by reference to the at least one common feature element of each dental appliance so that the second digital model is positioned in the same spatial position and orientation of the first digital model in relation to the digital representation of the tooth or orthodontic appliance.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the replacing step comprises placing the second digital model by reference to the at least one common feature element of each dental appliance so that the second digital mode 1 is positioned in the same spatial position and orientation of the first digital model in relation to the digital representation of the tooth or orthodontic appliance and an orientation in a three-dimensional coordinate system.