Dynamic virtual articulator

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method comprises the steps of: providing the virtual articulator comprising a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth; providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur; wherein the method further comprises: providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

1 . A computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method comprises the steps of:
 providing the virtual articulator comprising a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth;   providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur;   wherein the method further comprises:   providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises simultaneous modeling of the one or more dental restorations and collision testing of the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises fixing the virtual upper jaw to the occlusal axis such that the virtual lower jaw is configured to move relative to the virtual upper jaw. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises defining a search structure on the virtual upper jaw configured for searching on predefined circular paths around the occlusal axis for detecting collisions with the surface of the lower jaw model. 
     
     
         7 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the part of the one or more dental restoration which causes a collision is configured to be automatically removed from the respective virtual jaw. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises that the movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other is configured to be digitally recorded. 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises aligning the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw to correspond to the anatomical alignment of the jaws in the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises positioning a virtual alignment plane relative to the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw, where the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw defines a virtual model of the set of teeth, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 visualising the virtual alignment plane and the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw; and   automatically positioning the virtual alignment plane and the virtual lower jaw and virtual upper jaw relative to each other based on one or more parameters.   
     
     
         22 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning of the virtual alignment plane relative to the virtual model of the set of teeth is configured to be performed by the operator by selecting one or more virtual points relative to the virtual model of the set of teeth within which point(s) the virtual alignment plane should be moved to. 
     
     
         41 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 21 , wherein the virtual alignment plane and/or the virtual model of the set of teeth is/are semi-transparent or translucent such that both the virtual alignment plane and the virtual set of teeth are visible simultaneously. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises that during the movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other all the collisions occurring between teeth are registered, and after the movement is finished, modeling of the collision points of the restorations is performed. 
     
     
         59 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein restorations are penetrable. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises providing that the designed restoration(s) is blocked from being penetrable when colliding with the opposite virtual jaw. 
     
     
         64 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein a predefined motion of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other is configured to be played. 
     
     
         69 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises positioning a virtual alignment plane relative to the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw, where the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw defines a virtual model of the set of teeth, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 visualising the virtual alignment plane and the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw; and   automatically positioning the virtual alignment plane and the virtual lower jaw and virtual upper jaw relative to each other.   
     
     
         74 - 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . A computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided orthodontic treatment planning for a patient, where the method comprises the steps of:
 providing the virtual articulator comprising a virtual three-dimensional teeth model comprising the upper jaw, defined as the virtual upper jaw, and a virtual three-dimensional teeth model comprising the lower jaw, defined as the virtual lower jaw, resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth;   providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur;   wherein the method further comprises:   providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.   
     
     
         79 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein treatment planning in orthodontics comprises segmenting teeth, moving teeth, and/or simulating motion of jaws and teeths. 
     
     
         80 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein the method comprises registering the trace of collisions, and based on this the orthodontic treatment, e.g. movement of the different teeth, is planned. 
     
     
         81 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein the method comprises assigning a weight to one or more teeth. 
     
     
         82 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein modelling of orthodontic appliances is configured to be performed. 
     
     
         88 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein the patient's occlusion with the modelled appliances is configured to be simulated. 
     
     
         89 - 99 . (canceled) 
     
     
         100 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein the timewise sequence of events in the occlusion simulation is registered. 
     
     
         101 . (canceled) 
     
     
         102 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein an occlusal compass generated by real dynamic occlusion in the patient's mouth is transferred to the dynamic virtual articulator. 
     
     
         103 - 113 . (canceled) 
     
     
         114 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein a CT scan of the patient's mouth is generated, and a virtual 3D model of the patient's mouth is automatically generated based on the scan, and occlusion is configured to be simulated based on the 3D CT model. 
     
     
         115 - 119 . (canceled) 
     
     
         120 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein a weight assigned to a tooth determines its functionality importance in guiding the occlusion of the patient. 
     
     
         121 - 124 . (canceled) 
     
     
         125 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein occlusion of the present set of teeth is simulated, and one or more designed restorations is/are optionally included in the simulation. 
     
     
         126 - 130 . (canceled) 
     
     
         131 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 78 , wherein one or more contact criteria for occlusion is defined and used in simulation of occlusion. 
     
     
         132 - 139 . (canceled) 
     
     
         140 . A virtual articulator system for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the system comprises:
 means for providing the virtual articulator comprising a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth;   means for providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur;   wherein the system further comprises:   means for providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.   
     
     
         141 - 143 . (canceled)