Registration of 3D imaging of 3D objects

A method for constructing a 3-D image model incorporating and aligning 3-D scan image data of an upper dental model component and an opposing lower dental model component, said method comprising:

• (a) using a 3-D scanner, 3-dimensionally scanning each of the upper and lower dental model components, wherein at least one of said components has a planar feature and during said scanning, causing said component planar feature to bear upon a planar surface of said 3-D scanner, said components also having additional recognition features sufficient when combined with the planar bottom feature to determine the position and orientation of each component;
• (b) placing said upper dental model component and said lower dental model component against said scanner in an occlusal relationship;
• (c) 3-D scanning said upper and lower dental model components to obtain 3-D image data encompassing a sufficient number of said recognition features of the upper dental model component and of the lower dental model component scanned in act (a) to permit alignment of images of said components;
• and
• (d) processing said 3-D image data and constructing therefrom a 3-D image model wherein a representation of said upper dental model component is accurately aligned with a representation of said lower dental model component.