Method, arrangement and program for a prosthetic installation

Abstract

In a method and arrangement for allocating prosthetic installation work between at least three parties (A, B, C) a dental situation and fixture application are simulated on a computer screen by the first party. The second party produces first components in connection with the prosthetic installation with the aid of a recording and said simulation. Second components are supplied by the third party (C) and the prosthetic installation is assembled and fitted by the first party by means of said first and second components. The recording includes first and second readings of a loose prosthesis and a portion supporting the prosthetic insallation. The simulation includes collation of representations of the readings on a computer screen. Simulated fixture applications are constructed and a model is produced by one of said parties, or a fourth party. An assembly template guides hole-forming members in an actual substrate in directions which correspond to the directions of the fixtures. A dental bridge is provided with attachment holes which connect to the holes formed in the substrate. Fixtures are applied in said formed holes by the first party and the dental bridge is secured in or on said fixtures. The invention also relates to a computer program in connection with the above.

1. A method for allocating prosthetic installation work between at least three parties, comprising:
 wheresimulating a dental situation and fixture applications therein are simulated on a computer screen by the a first party,; 
 producing first components in connection with the prosthetic installation are produced by the a second party with the aid of a recording and said simulation, 
 supplying second components are supplied by the a third party, and 
 assembling and fitting the prosthetic installation is assembled and fitted by the first party by means of using said first and second components, 
 characterized in thatwherein the recording includes a first reading of an impression or prosthesis and a second reading of a portion supporting the prosthetic installation, in that the simulation includes collation of images or representations on the computer screen, which images or representations result from the first and second readings and on the basis of which the simulated fixture applications are constructed, in thatwherein the simulated fixture applications include chosen positionings in relation to said supporting portion, in thatwherein a model, e.g. of plastic, is produced, preferably by a stereolithopaphy method, by one of said parties, or a fourth party, in that wherein the first components include an assembly template which can be applied to said a substrate and is produced by means of based on the model and is intended for hole-forming members which are guided by the assembly template in the substrate in directions which correspond to the directions of the chosen positionings, in that wherein the first components include a unit forming part of the installation, e.g. a dental bridge, which is provided with attachment holes which connect to the holes formed in the substrate, in that wherein the second components include the fixtures which are applied in said formed holes by the first party, and in that wherein the second components also include securing members for securing the unit in said applied fixtures after application of said fixtures in said formed holes. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in patent  claim 1 , characterized in that wherein the model is constructed, preferably by the third party, in two parts, where the first part represents the supporting portion (jaw bone) and is generated based on the second reading and the second part represents the tooth prosthesis/tooth structure a tooth prosthesis or tooth structure and is generated based on the first reading, the two parts being separated from each other by an intermediate space to permit application in an articulator. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in patent  claim 1 , characterized in that wherein the first party sends order descriptions by means of using completely or partially automated equipment to the second party who receives the order via completely or partially automated receiving equipment. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that wherein the dental bridge unit forming part of the installation is produced on the plastic model, and in that wherein spacers are mounted on the fixtures of the model and cementing sleeves are placed on the spacers, and in that the wherein a frame of the dental bridge is preferably made of unit forming part of the installation comprises carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, titanium or a dental alloy. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that wherein a soft-tissue replacement is between the first and second parts and is made of soft plastic, e.g. vinyl or polysiloxane, and in that wherein the lengths of the spacers are secured to, and the configuration of the bridge unit forming part of the installation is adapted to, the soft-tissue. 
     
     
       6. An arrangement for allocating prosthetic installation work between at least three parties, and comprising:
 a computer which is located with the a first party and which is intended to simulate, on its screen, a dental situation and fixture applications therein, 
 a first production unit which is located with the a second party and which is intended to permit production of first components intended for the prosthetic installation with the aid of a recording and said simulation, 
 a second production or supply unit which is located with the a third party and which is used to produce second components, and 
 first equipment which is located with the first party and is intended to allow the prosthetic installation to be constructed and fitted on the a patient with the aid of the first and second components, 
 characterized in thatwherein the recording includes a first reading of an impression or prosthesis and a second reading of a portion supporting the prosthetic installation, in thatwherein the computer is intended, in connection with the simulation, to permit collation of images or representations on the computer screen, which images or representations result from the first and second readings, and to indicate on these the simulated fixture applications which include chosen positionings in relation to said supporting portion, in thatwherein second equipment, preferably a stereolithography appliance, which is located with one of the parties, or with a fourth party, is intended for production of a model, e.g. of plastic, in that the wherein a first production apparatus is provided for production of an assembly template which has been constructed by means of based on the model and which has guide elements for hole-forming members which can be guided by the assembly template in order to assume directions which correspond to the directions of the chosen positionings, in that wherein the first production apparatus is also provided for production of a structural unit, e.g. a dental bridge, which forms part of the installation and which is provided with attachment holes which connect to the holes formed in the substrate, in that wherein the second production or supply unit produces or supplies the fixtures intended for said formed holes, and also securing members for securing the structural unit in the fixtures which are applied in the substrate. 
 
     
     
       7. The arrangement ms as claimed in patent  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the model, e.g. the plastic model, consists of comprises two parts, where the first part simulates the supporting portion and is generated based on the second reading and the second part simulates the an impression/prosthesis/tooth or prosthesis or tooth structure and is generated based on the first reading, and in that wherein between the parts there is an intermediate space which corresponds to the a site for soft tissue, which intermediate space permits fitting/impaction fitting in an articulator of an opposite jaw. 
     
     
       8. The arrangement as claimed in patent  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the model comprises a tooth structure that comprises wax with prosthetic teeth made of acrylate and that is tested on the patient. 
     
     
       9. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the first party uses completely or partially automated ordering equipment, which for example includes an order telephone, telecommunications network or computer network, configured to send an order to the second party concerning one or more of the planned therapy, individual characteristics, date, or cost, etc., and in that wherein the second party has access to completely or partially automated receiving equipment. 
     
     
       10. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the recording includes information on the relationship of the jaw bites to each other, and in that wherein the information to the second party includes details of the articulator/articulators, the information preferably being able to be transmitted to the second party by electronic means. 
     
     
       11. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the model which can be produced by the first party, for example by means of X-ray tomography, can be transmitted to the second party or the third party by completely or partially electronic means, e.g. via computer and/or telecommunication systems (including the Internet), and in that wherein the third party, e.g. with the aid of the first production unit, constructs a real (actual) model which is sent to the first party or the second party. 
     
     
       12. The arrangement as claimed in patent  claim 11 , characterized in that wherein the first part is supported on the second part with the aid of small pin-shaped or spike-shaped elements which are automatically simulated in a computer program for stereolithography production. 
     
     
       13. The arrangement as claimed in patent  claim 11 , characterized in that wherein the model is provided with fixtures placed in holes or seats in the model, and in that wherein the assembly template is adapted to said fixtures/holes/seats. 
     
     
       14. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the assembly template comprises spacers which support hole-forming sleeves or drill sleeves, in that the spacers are held together with the aid of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, and in that the template is assigned a contact with the second model part which corresponds to the patient's jaw bone, the template being able to be placed in a corresponding position in the patient's mouth. 
     
     
       15. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the dental bridge structural unit comprises spacers which can be mounted on the fixtures of the model, and in that wherein cementing sleeves are arranged on the spacers, and the frame (skeleton) of the dental bridge consists of comprises carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, titanium or some other dental alloy. 
     
     
       16. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein a soft tissue replacement is in said intermediate spaces and is made of soft plastic. 
     
     
       17. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the spacers comprise titanium and are intended to be cemented on the titanium sleeves in the bridge in the patient's mouth and to be screwed to the fixtures with spacer screws made of gold. 
     
     
       18. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the second components comprise assembly templates for drills/fixtures RP, drill guides, guide drills and other types of drills, recessing members, fixtures, assembly spacers, screw tighteners, supports, guide pins, mandrels, toothbrushes, cement compositions, milling devices and machines for bite grinding and hole-blocking means, which second components are arranged in different platforms with different dimensions. 
     
     
       19. The arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that wherein the first apparatus is designed to permit, upon transfer of the first and second components, a short time for fitting the installation on the patient of from between 1 to 4 hours, preferably 1½to 2 hours. 
     
     
       20. A method for constructing components related to a prosthetic installation, comprising:
 receiving, by computer equipment, data based on a simulated graphical representation of a dental structure of a patient, the dental structure comprising at least a portion of the patient's jawbone;   receiving, by the computer equipment, data indicative of one or more desired virtual fixture locations in the patient's jawbone, the desired virtual fixture locations placed in position using, at least in part, the simulated graphical representation of the dental structure of the patient;   receiving an actual physical model created based at least in part using computer information corresponding to the simulated graphical representation and the data indicative of the desired virtual fixture locations, the actual physical model comprising physical representations of the at least a portion of the patient's jawbone and of the desired virtual fixture locations;   providing an assembly template comprising one or more guide holes that are oriented based on the desired virtual fixture locations, the assembly template configured to be applied to the patient and to guide a drilling tool through the guide holes for drilling one or more holes in the patient's jawbone corresponding to the desired virtual fixture locations; and   constructing a prosthetic installation at least in part using the actual physical model, the prosthetic installation configured to attach to the jawbone of the patient via one or more fixtures,   wherein the one or more fixtures are configured to be inserted in the one or more holes drilled in the patient's jawbone, wherein the prosthetic installation is configured to be installed using the assembly template and the one or more fixtures.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein the dental structure further comprises one or more loose prostheses. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20, wherein the prosthetic installation comprises a dental bridge. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 20, wherein the prosthetic installation is installed onto the one or more fixtures using one or more securing members. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 20, wherein the physical representations of the desired virtual fixture locations comprise one or more holes in the actual physical model. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 20, wherein the assembly template comprises one or more sleeves through which the one or more guide holes extend. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
 applying the assembly template to the patient's jawbone; and   inserting a drilling tool into the one or more guide holes of the assembly template to form the one or more holes in the patient's jawbone corresponding to the desired virtual fixture locations.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 20, wherein the assembly template is constructed using the actual physical model. 
     
     
       28. A method for constructing components related to a prosthetic installation, comprising:
 receiving, by computer equipment, data indicative of one or more desired virtual fixture locations in a dental structure of a patient, the desired virtual fixture locations placed in position using, at least in part, a simulated graphical representation of a dental structure of the patient, the dental structure comprising at least a portion of the patient's jawbone;   creating an actual physical model using computer information corresponding to the simulated graphical representation and the data indicative of the desired virtual fixture locations, the actual physical model comprising physical representations of the at least a portion of the patient's jawbone and of the desired virtual fixture locations; and   creating an assembly template comprising one or more guide holes that are oriented based on the desired virtual fixture locations, the assembly template configured to be applied to the patient and to guide a drilling tool through the guide holes for drilling one or more holes in the patient's jawbone indicative of the desired virtual fixture locations,   wherein a prosthetic installation can be constructed at least in part using the actual physical model, the prosthetic installation configured to attach to the jawbone of the patient via one or more fixtures, and wherein the one or more fixtures are configured to be inserted in the one or more holes drilled in the patient's jawbone and the prosthetic installation is configured to be installed using the assembly template and the one or more fixtures.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28, wherein creating the actual physical model comprises forming one or more holes in the actual physical model corresponding to the physical representations of the desired virtual fixture locations. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 28, wherein the creating the assembly template comprises forming the one or more guide holes. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:
 applying the assembly template to the patient's jawbone; and   inserting a drilling tool into the one or more guide holes of the assembly template to form the one or more holes in the patient's jawbone corresponding to the desired virtual fixture locations.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 28, wherein creating the assembly template comprises producing the assembly template at least in part using the actual physical model.