Methods and apparatus for digital imaging of dental models

The dental method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first scanner coordinate system comprises a first scanner datum point.

The dental method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the virtual scene comprises a virtual image of at least part of an articulator, the at least part of the articulator comprising any one or more of:

• a portion of a lower jaw of the articulator;
• a portion of an upper jaw of the articulator;
• a hinge axis of the articulator and a pin position of the articulator.

The dental method of any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

• scanning a second dental model using the scanner to obtain three-dimensional virtual image data of the second dental model and either associating the first scanner coordinate system with the virtual image data of the second dental model or associating a second scanner coordinate system with the virtual image data of the second dental model;
• positioning a three-dimensional virtual image of the second dental model, based on the three-dimensional virtual image data of the second dental model, within the three-dimensional virtual scene;
• wherein the three-dimensional virtual scene is associated with the first virtual articulator coordinate system and optionally a second virtual articulator coordinate system, and wherein the positioning of the virtual image of the second dental model within the virtual scene comprises positioning and orienting the virtual image of the second dental model relative to the one of the first and second articulator coordinate systems based on a transformation of virtual image data of the second dental model from its associated first or second scanner coordinate system to the first or second virtual articulator coordinate system.

The dental method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the navigation elements comprise navigation spheres.

The dental method of any one of the preceding claims wherein at least the first navigation body comprises an engagement surface for engaging with a receiving surface of a connector of the scanner.

A dental method comprising:

• receiving three-dimensional virtual image data of a first dental model, the three-dimensional virtual image data of the first dental model having been obtained by scanning the first dental model using a scanner, the three-dimensional virtual image data of the first dental model being associated with a first scanner coordinate system, the first scanner coordinate having been determined by scanning a first navigation body that comprises a plurality of first navigation elements, determining the relative locations of the first navigation elements and, based on the relative locations of the navigation elements, determining the first scanner coordinate system;
• positioning, a three-dimensional virtual image of the first dental model, based on the three-dimensional virtual image data, within a three-dimensional virtual scene,
• wherein the three-dimensional virtual scene is associated with a first virtual articulator coordinate system, and wherein the positioning of the virtual image of the first dental model within the virtual scene comprises positioning and orienting the virtual image of the first dental model relative to the first virtual articulator coordinate system based on a transformation of the virtual image data of the first dental model from the first scanner coordinate system to the first virtual articulator coordinate system.