# US 10,307,229 B2 · Method for constructing tooth surfaces of a dental prosthesis and for producing dental restorations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,229 B2 - Document ID: US10307229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/770,597 - Filed: 2014-03-03 - Published: 2016-01-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-01 - Assignees: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. - Applicants: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. - Inventors: Steffen Hauth; Sascha Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307229B2 ## CPC - A61C 13/0004: {Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses} - A61C 13/0003: {Making bridge-work, inlays, implants or the like} - G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for constructing tooth surfaces of a dental prosthesis and for producing dental restorations, starting from a 3D data record of an upper mandible layout and a 3D data record of a lower mandible layout, each layout comprising a number of teeth arranged in each mandibular arch and the teeth of the upper mandible layout and the teeth of the lower mandible layout at intercuspation making contact with each other at multiple contact points. The contact surfaces are selected by approximation. Relevant surface pairs lying opposite one another are identified and are incorporated by an optimization algorithm into local minimum distances, taking into consideration surfaces that can slide past one another. This allows the desired contact points to be produced. Surfaces that have not been selected are not considered in the production of the points of contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for the construction of tooth surfaces of a dental prosthesis part and for producing dental restorations, comprising: allocating a 3D data record of a maxilla layout and a 3D data record of a mandible layout to each other by performing contact optimization, with each layout having a plurality of teeth arranged in the respective arch of the jaw, wherein the teeth of the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and the teeth of the 3D data record of the mandible layout have a multi-point contact with numerous contact points in intercuspation, the method further comprising: automatically determining a common occlusal direction from the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and from the 3D data record of the mandible layout, automatically determining the position of the teeth in the arch of the jaw in the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and in the 3D data record of the mandible layout, automatically identifying surface elements that are at least approximately opposite one another on at least one side of the opposing surface elements on the basis of the position of the teeth in the arch of the jaw, and (a) selecting, by a user and/or (b) selecting automatically or substantially automatically, on one side of the opposing surface elements, the surface elements that are to come in contact; (a) selecting, by a user and/or (b) selecting automatically or substantially automatically, on the other side of the opposing surface elements, the surface elements that are to come in contact; cutting out regions that are present on both sides of the opposing surface elements to form surface pairs, minimizing the cut-out surface pairs in their distance from one another using an optimization algorithm, such that the optimized allocation of the surface pairs is transferred to the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and to the 3D data record of the mandible layout, and fabricating one or more dental restorations based on the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and the 3D data record of the mandible layout. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein only surface pairs that can slide past one another are used. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the optimization algorithm supplies a non-penetrating overall layout of the 3D data record of a maxilla layout and of the 3D data record of a mandible layout. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein an approximate allocation of the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and of the 3D data record of the mandible layout is obtained via pre-registration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4 wherein the pre-registration is a buccal registration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected surface elements in the occlusal direction are projected automatically onto the respective other side, and the regions that are present on both sides of the opposing surface elements are cut out and form said surface pairs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein only the surface elements for which there is a need for further optimization are selected in a targeted manner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the optimization algorithm is a downhill-simplex method. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface elements are selected based on one or more members of the group consisting of user input, geometry of teeth, bioenergetics and a height parameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform the method of claim 1. ### Claim 11 A system for the construction of tooth surfaces of a dental prosthesis part and for producing dental restorations, the system comprising: a processing machine for producing the dental prosthesis part, and at least one processor configured to perform the steps of: allocating a 3D data record of a maxilla layout and a 3D data record of a mandible layout to each other by performing contact optimization, with each layout having a plurality of teeth arranged in the respective arch of the jaw, wherein the teeth of the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and the teeth of the 3D data record of the mandible layout have a multi-point contact with numerous contact points in intercuspation, automatically determining a common occlusal direction from the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and from the 3D data record of the mandible layout, automatically determining the position of the teeth in the arch of the jaw in the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and in the 3D data record of the mandible layout, automatically identifying surface elements that are at least approximately opposite one another on at least one side of the opposing surface elements on the basis of the position of the teeth in the arch of the jaw, and (a) enabling selecting, by a user and/or (b) selecting automatically or substantially automatically, on one side of the opposing surface elements, the surface elements that are to come in contact; (a) enabling selecting, by a user and/or (b) selecting automatically or substantially automatically, on the other side of the opposing surface elements, the surface elements that are to come in contact; cutting out regions that are present on both sides of the opposing surface elements to form surface pairs, minimizing the cut-out surface pairs in their distance from one another using an optimization algorithm, such that the optimized allocation of the surface pairs is transferred to the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and to the 3D data record of the mandible layout, and fabricating one or more dental restorations based on the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and the 3D data record of the mandible layout. ### Claim 12 A method for the construction of tooth surfaces of a dental prosthesis part using a computer, wherein the computer comprising a processor and a software program having instructions stored in a non-transitory readable medium, when executed, causes computer to perform the method including steps of: allocating a 3D data record of a maxilla layout and a 3D data record of a mandible layout to each other by performing contact optimization, with each layout having a plurality of teeth arranged in the respective arch of the jaw, wherein the teeth of the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and the teeth of the 3D data record of the mandible layout have a multi-point contact with numerous contact points in intercuspation, automatically determining a common occlusal direction from the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and from the 3D data record of the mandible layout, automatically determining the position of the teeth in the arch of the jaw in the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and in the 3D data record of the mandible layout, automatically identifying surface elements that are at least approximately opposite one another on at least one side of the opposing surface elements on the basis of the position of the teeth in the arch of the jaw, and (a) enabling selecting, by a user and/or (b) selecting automatically or substantially automatically, on one side of the opposing surface elements, the surface elements that are to come in contact; (a) enabling selecting, by a user and/or (b) selecting automatically or substantially automatically, on the other side of the opposing surface elements, the surface elements that are to come in contact; cutting out regions that are present on both sides of the opposing surface elements to form surface pairs, and minimizing the cut-out surface pairs in their distance from one another using an optimization algorithm, such that the optimized allocation of the surface pairs is transferred to the 3D data record of the maxilla layout and to the 3D data record of the mandible layout.