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AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorAvi Kopelman
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A system and method are provided for manufacturing a physical model of a dental structure that includes a dental implant. In at least one example, the physical model is configured to allow a dental analog can be inserted into the physical model in a In general coronal direction. A virtual model of the dental structure is provided including a virtual implant spatial disposition with respect to the virtual model corresponding to a physical implant spatial disposition of the dental implant with respect to the physical dental structure. A virtual analog installation structure is defined in the virtual model. Using the virtual model, a physical model corresponding to the virtual model is manufactured, the physical model being provided with a physical analog installation structure corresponding to the virtual analog installation structure. The physical analog installation structure is configured for enabling a dental analog, corresponding to the dental implant, to be inserted in a general coronal direction with respect to the physical model to an installed position in the physical model. In the installed position, the dental analog has an analog spatial disposition with respect to the physical model corresponding to the physical implant spatial disposition of the dental implant with respect to the physical dental structure. A composite physical model, and methods for manufacturing the same, are also provided.
-120. (canceled)
A method for manufacturing a composite physical dental model of a dental structure of a patient, the method comprising:
The method of claim 1, wherein the second model part has at least one physical property different from a physical property of the first model part.
The method of claim 2, wherein the physical property is a mechanical property.
The method of claim 2, wherein the physical property is at least one of a texture, a resilience, a color, and a softness.
The method of claim 1, further comprising manufacturing the physical composite model using the instructions.
The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the virtual model to create the first virtual model part corresponding to the portion of the soft dental surfaces includes defining a second virtual surface of the first virtual model part by defining a plane in a selected orientation and displaced a distance in an apical direction from the first virtual surface of the first virtual model part.
The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the virtual model to create the first virtual model part corresponding to the portion of the soft dental surfaces includes defining lateral virtual surfaces of the first virtual model part that extend between the first virtual surface and the second virtual surface of the first virtual model part.
The method of claim 1, wherein the second virtual model part and the first virtual model part are in virtual abutment with each other.
The method of claim 1, wherein generating the virtual model of the dental structure of the patient includes scanning the dental structure of the patient.
An apparatus for aiding in correcting a dental structure of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second model part has at least one physical property different from a physical property of the first model part.
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the physical property is a mechanical property.
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the physical property is chosen from texture, resilience, color, and softness.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first model part includes a second surface displaced in an apical direction a distance from the first surface of the first model part.
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first model part includes lateral surfaces that extend between the first surface and the second surface of the first model part.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second model part and the first model part abut each other.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first model part and the second model part include affixing features configured for enabling the first physical model part to be affixed with respect to the second physical model part in a relative spatial disposition therewith corresponding to the relative spatial disposition of the respective patient's dental structure.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first model part is formed in situ on the second model part.
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the composite model includes alignment features for occlusal alignment of the composite physical model with a dental model of an opposite jaw.
The apparats of claim 10, wherein the first model part and the second model part are coupled together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.