Method, computer, machine-readable medium, computer program and system, concerning the manufacture of dental prostheses

Abstract

The invention relates to the examination of a dental prosthesis, wherein the dental prosthesis is examined with finite element methods. Furthermore, the invention relates to the automated manufacture of a dental prosthesis, wherein the shape of a remaining tooth area is directly determined on the basis of the remaining tooth area itself. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method, wherein manufacturing data (milling data) which have been created with a system for calculating manufacturing data (system for calculating milling data) are optionally forwarded to one or another manufacturing machine (milling machine) at different locations.

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         15 . Method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a data record representing the shape of a remaining tooth area directly on the basis of the remaining tooth area,   transmitting the data record to modeling software by which a dental prosthesis data record can be created,   examining the dental prosthesis data record to determine whether the dental prosthesis data record is to be transmitted to a production system, and   transmitting the dental prosthesis data record to the production system that manufactures the dental prosthesis, if the determination is positive.   
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein the data record is obtained using a chair side system. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein the data record is obtained at a first location and the dental prosthesis data record is created and/or the dental prosthesis is manufactured at a second location that is different than the first location. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein the dental prosthesis is an inlay, an overlay, a crown, part of an implant or a bridge. 
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein examining the dental prosthesis data record includes examining a data record representing a dental prosthesis using finite element methods. 
     
     
         20 . System for manufacturing a dental prosthesis having
 a device for obtaining a data record representing a shape of a remaining tooth area directly on the basis of the remaining tooth area,   means for transmitting the data record to modeling software by which a dental prosthesis data record can be created,   means for executing the modeling software for creating the dental prosthesis data record,   means for examining whether the dental prosthesis data record is to be transmitted to a production system that can manufacture a dental prosthesis, and   means for transmitting the dental prosthesis data record to the production system, if the determination is positive.   
     
     
         21 . Method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis, comprising the steps of:
 creating a dental prosthesis data record,   calculating manufacturing data with a system for calculating manufacturing data at a first location on the basis of the dental prosthesis data record,   deciding at the first location whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to a second location,   transmitting the manufacturing data by remote data transmission from the first location to the second location, if the determination is positive, and   manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second location, if the determination is positive.   
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 21 , wherein the dental prosthesis data record is created at the second location, and transmitted to the first location by remote data transmission. 
     
     
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         24 . Method according to  claim 21 , further comprising examining the dental prosthesis data record using a method wherein a data record representing a dental prosthesis is examined using finite element methods. 
     
     
         25 . System for manufacturing a dental prosthesis having:
 a device for creating a dental prosthesis data record,   a system for calculating manufacturing data at a first location for calculating the manufacturing data on the basis of the dental prosthesis data record,   means for deciding at the first location whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to a second location,   remote data transmission means for transmitting the manufacturing data from the first location to a second location, and   means for manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second location.   
     
     
         26 . Method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis,
 comprising the steps of:
 creating a dental prosthesis data record, 
 calculating manufacturing data with a system for calculating manufacturing data-at a first location on the basis of the dental prosthesis data record, 
 examining the manufacturing data to determine whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to a manufacturing machine at the first location and/or at a second location, and 
 manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second location and/or at the first location, according to a result of the determination. 
   
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 26 , wherein the dental prosthesis data record is created at the second location and transmitted to the first location by remote data transmission. 
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 26 , further comprising examining the dental prosthesis data record using a method wherein a data record representing a dental prosthesis is examined using finite element methods. 
     
     
         29 . System for manufacturing a dental prosthesis, comprising:
 a device for creating a dental prosthesis data record,   a system for calculating manufacturing data at a first location for calculating the manufacturing data on the basis of the dental prosthesis data record,   means for examining the manufacturing data to determine whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to a manufacturing machine at the first location and/or to a second location, and   means for manufacturing the dental prosthesis at the second location and/or at the first location.   
     
     
         30 . Method, comprising:
 examining a dental prosthesis data record and/or a manufacturing data record   determining whether the manufacturing data record is to be forwarded to a manufacturing machine at a first location or transmitted via remote data transmission to a second location, and   forwarding the manufacturing data record to a manufacturing machine at the first location or transmitting the manufacturing data record via remote data transmission to the second location, according to the determination result.   
     
     
         31 . Computer at a first location, comprising:
 storage means for storing manufacturing data and/or a dental prosthesis data record, and   examination means, by which the manufacturing data and/or the dental prosthesis data record can be examined in order to determine whether the manufacturing data are to be transmitted to a second location via remote data transmission or forwarded to a manufacturing machine at the first location.   
     
     
         32 . Computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the method according to  claim 30 . 
     
     
         33 . Computer program including program code means for performing the method of  claim 30  when executed on a computer. 
     
     
         34 . Method according to  claim 21 , further comprising filing the dental prosthesis data record and/or the manufacturing data at the first location. 
     
     
         35 . Method according to  claim 21 , wherein the respective data transmission is performed via Internet. 
     
     
         36 . Method according to  claim 21 , the determination is made based on a difference in size and/or precision and/or speed of respective manufacturing machines utilized at the first location and at the second location. 
     
     
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         43 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein the chair side system comprises an optical probe. 
     
     
         44 . Method according to  claim 21 , wherein the manufacturing data comprise milling data. 
     
     
         45 . Method according to  claim 21 , wherein the system for calculating manufacturing data comprises a system for calculating milling data. 
     
     
         46 . Method according to  claim 25 , wherein the system for calculating manufacturing data comprises a system for calculating milling data. 
     
     
         47 . Method according to  claim 26 , wherein the manufacturing data comprise milling data. 
     
     
         48 . Method according to  claim 26 , wherein the system for calculating manufacturing data comprises a system for calculating milling data. 
     
     
         49 . Method according to  claim 26 , wherein the manufacturing machine comprises a milling machine. 
     
     
         50 . Method according to  claim 29 , wherein the system for calculating manufacturing data comprises a system for calculating milling data. 
     
     
         51 . Method according to  claim 29 , wherein the manufacturing data comprise milling data. 
     
     
         52 . Method according to  claim 29 , wherein the manufacturing machine comprises a milling machine. 
     
     
         53 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the manufacturing data record comprises a milling data record. 
     
     
         54 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the manufacturing machine comprises a milling machine. 
     
     
         55 . Method according to  claim 31 , wherein the manufacturing data comprise milling data. 
     
     
         56 . Method according to  claim 31 , wherein the manufacturing machine comprises a milling machine. 
     
     
         57 . Method according to  claim 36 , wherein the manufacturing machine comprises a milling machine.