Method and a system usable in creating a subsequent dental appliance

Abstract

A current digital dental model is received that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity. The current digital dental model is a direct digital scan of the set of physical teeth and the current dental appliance. The physical teeth are at a position in treatment when all or a part of the current dental appliance is desired to be removed from one or more of the set of physical teeth and it is desired to use a subsequent appliance. The current digital dental model is created based a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method usable in creating a subsequent dental appliance prior to removal of a current dental appliance from a set of physical teeth for a patient, the method comprising:
 receiving a current digital dental model that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity, wherein the current digital dental model is a direct digital scan of the set of physical teeth and the current dental appliance and wherein the physical teeth are at a position in treatment when all or a part of the current dental appliance is desired to be removed from one or more of the set of physical teeth and it is desired to use a subsequent appliance;   creating based on the current digital dental model, a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance; and   providing digital data suitable for use in manufacturing the subsequent dental appliance based on electronic data included in the new digital dental model prior to removal of all or part of the current dental appliance from the set of physical teeth,   wherein the receiving and the creating are performed by one or more computer processors.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the current digital dental model further comprises:
 receiving the current digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth that are at or close to a desired teeth arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing of the subsequent dental appliance further comprises:
 manufacturing a retainer appliance based on the electronic data in the new digital dental model prior to the removal of the current dental appliance from the set of physical teeth.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the current digital dental model further comprises:
 receiving the current digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient and the current dental appliance is selected from a group consisting of a set of brace, an attachment suitable for use with a removable plastic positioning dental appliance, and a dental appliance suitable for attachment to bone under the gingiva of the patient, a sleep apnea appliance, a splint, a bridge, an implant, an orthodontic band, a fixed lingual retainer, and a set of lingual braces, wherein the dental appliance suitable for attachment to bone is selected from a group consisting of a temporary anchorage device, a mini screw, a mini plate, a ball type, a bracket type and a hook type.   
     
     
         5 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the current digital dental model further comprises:
 receiving the current digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient and the current dental appliance is a dental appliance that is attached to one or more of the physical teeth.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the physical teeth are close but not at a desired teeth arrangement and wherein the method further comprises:
 adjusting to the desired teeth arrangement, positions of one or more of the teeth in the new digital dental model.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited by  claim 6 , wherein the current dental appliance includes an orthodontic band causing an interproximal distance between two of the physical teeth and wherein the method further comprises:
 adjusting to the desired teeth arrangement, a position of at least one of the two physical teeth in the new digital dental model separated by the interproximal distance.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 superimposing each of segmented digital teeth of the patient on corresponding digital teeth associated with the current digital dental model, wherein the segmented digital teeth are derived from the set of physical teeth without any dental appliance applied to the set of physical teeth;   determining a non-superimposed portion of the current digital dental model based on the superimposing; and   creating the new digital dental model by removing the non-superimposed portion of the current digital dental model.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the representation is a first representation and the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 superimposing a second representation of all or a portion of the current dental appliance on the current dental appliance associated with the first representation;   determining a superimposed portion of the first representation based on the superimposing; and   creating the new digital dental model by removing the superimposed portion of the first representation.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited by  claim 9 , wherein the superimposing of the second representation of all or the portion of the current dental appliance further comprises:
 superimposing the second representation of the portion selected from a group consisting of a bracket, a wire, button, a cleat, a tube, a hook, a band, a ligature, an aligner attachment and an O-ring.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited by  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving an image of the current dental appliance when not applied to one or more of the physical teeth of the patient; and   using the image as the second representation.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited by  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving an image of a dental appliance that is the same or similar type of dental appliance as the current dental appliance; and   using the image as the second representation.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited by  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving the image from a library of dental appliances.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 estimating a contour of a portion of a digital tooth associated with the current digital dental model based on a contour of the underneath surface of a bracket base associated with the current dental appliance; and   removing the current dental appliance from the representation.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 digitally removing the current dental appliance from the current digital dental model; 
 determining an area of a first digital tooth beneath a virtual portion of the current dental appliance, wherein the first digital tooth is associated with the current digital dental model and the virtual portion is associated with the current dental appliance; 
 receiving an area of a second digital tooth that is similar to the first digital tooth; and 
 reconstructing a contour of the first digital tooth's area based on the second digital tooth's area. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited by  claim 15 , wherein the determining of the area of the first digital tooth beneath a virtual portion of the current dental appliance further comprises:
 determining the area of the first digital tooth beneath a virtual portion selected from a group consisting of a bracket, a wire, a button, a cleat, a tube, a hook, a band, a ligature wire, an attachment and an O-ring.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 creating the new digital dental model using one or more of the following operations,
 superimposing a segmented digital tooth of the patient on a first digital tooth associated with the current digital dental model, 
 superimposing a second representation of all or a portion of the current dental appliance on the current dental appliance associated with the current digital dental model, 
 estimating a contour of a portion of a second digital tooth associated with the current digital dental model based on a contour of the underneath surface of a bracket base associated with the current dental appliance, and 
 superimposing a similar digital tooth on a third digital tooth of the current digital dental model. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited by  claim 17 , wherein the first digital tooth, the second digital tooth and the third digital tooth correspond to different ones of the patient's physical teeth. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 superimposing a second digital tooth onto a first digital tooth of the current digital dental model, wherein the first and second digital teeth are similar; and   creating the new digital dental model by removing a non superimposed portion of the representation.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited by  claim 19 , wherein the superimposing of the second digital tooth onto the first digital tooth further comprises:
 superimposing the second digital tooth onto the first digital tooth of the current digital dental model, wherein the second digital tooth is an average of a plurality of digital teeth that are not derived from the physical teeth of the patient.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited by  claim 19 , wherein the superimposing of the second digital tooth onto the first digital tooth further comprises:
 superimposing a second digital tooth onto a first digital tooth of the current digital dental model, wherein both the first and second digital teeth represent different physical teeth of the patient.   
     
     
         22 . The method as recited by  claim 19 , wherein the superimposing of the second digital tooth onto the first digital tooth further comprises:
 superimposing the second digital tooth onto the first digital tooth of the current digital dental model, wherein the second digital tooth represents a physical tooth of a person that is not the patient.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited by  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 scaling a size of the second digital tooth based on a size of the first digital tooth.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 manufacturing the subsequent dental appliance based on the provided digital data prior to removal of all or part of the current dental appliance from the set of physical teeth.   
     
     
         25 . A method usable in creating a subsequent digital dental model prior to removal of a current dental appliance from a set of physical teeth for a patient, the method comprising:
 receiving a current digital dental model that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity, wherein the current digital dental model is a direct digital scan of the set of physical teeth and the current dental appliance and wherein the physical teeth are at a position in treatment when all or a part of the current dental appliance is desired to be removed from one or more of the set of physical teeth and it is desired to use a subsequent appliance; and   creating based on the current digital dental model, a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance.   
     
     
         26 . A tangible computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for causing a computer system to perform a method usable in creating a subsequent dental appliance prior to removal of a current dental appliance from a set of physical teeth for a patient, the method comprising:
 receiving a current digital dental model that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity, wherein the current digital dental model is a direct digital scan of the set of physical teeth and the current dental appliance and wherein the physical teeth are at a position in treatment when all or a part of the current dental appliance is desired to be removed from one or more of the set of physical teeth and it is desired to use a subsequent appliance; and   creating based on the current digital dental model, a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance,   wherein the creating is computer automated, and   wherein the new digital dental model includes electronic data suitable for manufacturing of the subsequent dental appliance prior to removal of all or part of the current dental appliance from the set of physical teeth.   
     
     
         27 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 superimposing each of segmented digital teeth of the patient on corresponding individual digital teeth associated with the current digital dental model.   
     
     
         28 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the representation of the current dental appliance is a first representation of the current dental appliance and wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 superimposing a second representation of all or a portion of the current dental appliance on the current dental appliance included in the first representation.   
     
     
         29 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 estimating a contour of a portion of a digital tooth associated with the current digital dental model based on a contour of the underneath surface of a bracket base associated with the current dental appliance.   
     
     
         30 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 determining a contour of an area of a first digital tooth based on an area of a second digital tooth,   wherein the first digital tooth's area is beneath a virtual bracket brace associated with the current dental appliance and wherein the first digital tooth is associated with the current digital dental model.   
     
     
         31 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the creating of the new digital dental model further comprises:
 superimposing a second digital tooth onto a first digital tooth of the current digital dental model, wherein the first digital tooth is similar to the second digital tooth; and   removing a non superimposed portion of the current digital dental model.   
     
     
         32 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the physical teeth are close but not at a desired teeth arrangement and wherein the method further comprises:
 creating a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth adjusted to the desired teeth arrangement.   
     
     
         33 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the current dental appliance includes an orthodontic band that, at least in part, causes an interproximal space between two of the physical teeth and wherein the method further comprises:
 creating a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth by adjusting to a desired teeth arrangement, a position of at least one of the two physical teeth in the new digital dental model separated by the interproximal space caused, at least in part, by the orthodontic band.   
     
     
         34 . A system usable in creating a subsequent dental appliance prior to removal of a current dental appliance from a set of physical teeth for a patient, the system comprising:
 a current-digital-dental-model-receiving-component suitable for receiving a current digital dental model that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity, wherein the current digital dental model is a direct digital scan of the set of physical teeth and the current dental appliance and wherein the physical teeth are at a position in treatment when all or a part of the current dental appliance is desired to be removed from one or more of the set of physical teeth and it is desired to use a subsequent appliance; and   a new-digital-dental-model-creation-component suitable for computer automated creation of a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance,   wherein the new digital dental model includes electronic data suitable for manufacturing of the subsequent dental appliance prior to removal of all or part of the current dental appliance from the set of physical teeth.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component is further suitable for:
 superimposing a segmented digital tooth of the patient on corresponding individual digital tooth associated with the current digital dental model, wherein the segmented digital tooth was obtained from a digital dental model taken of the set of physical teeth of the patient without the current dental appliance attached.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the representation is a first representation and wherein the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component is further suitable for:
 superimposing a second representation of all or a portion of the current dental appliance on the current dental appliance, wherein the second representation of the current dental appliance is obtained from a source selected from a group consisting of a library of dental appliances and an image of the current dental appliance when not applied to the set of physical teeth.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34 , the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component is further suitable for:
 estimating a contour of a subset of a digital tooth included in the current digital dental model, wherein the estimating is based on a contour of the underneath surface of a bracket base.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34 , the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component is further suitable for:
 creating a similar digital tooth based on an average of a plurality of physical teeth; and   determining a contour of a portion of the digital tooth of the current digital dental model based on a corresponding portion the similar digital tooth.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the new digital dental model is an intermediate digital dental model and wherein the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component is further suitable for:
 creating one of a series of intermediate digital dental models.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the series of intermediate digital dental models approximates a series of changes in gingival contour of the patient. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein a first gingival modeling technique is used on a first portion of the patient's gingival and a second gingival modeling technique is used on a second portion of the patient's gingival. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the changes in the gingival contour of the patient is determined based on a simulation. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the changes in the gingival contour of the patient is determined based on an original gingival contour of the patient without requiring simulation. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the changes in the gingival contour of the patient is due to the gingival contour expanding or receding. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the current digital dental model is obtained using an intraoral scan. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the subsequent dental appliance is a removable plastic positioning dental appliance. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the position in treatment is not a final teeth arrangement and wherein the removable plastic positioning dental appliance is one of a series of removable plastic positioning dental appliances that are used to achieve the final teeth arrangement. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component receives at least one user selected voxel of the current dental appliance or a portion of the current dental appliance and identifies boundaries of the current dental appliance or the portion of the teeth covered by the current dental appliance. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the new-digital-dental-model-creation-component receives at least one user selected voxel of the surface of teeth and identifies boundaries of the current dental appliance or the portion of the teeth not covered by the current dental appliance.