Method of imaging a person's jaw and a model therefor

A method for representing a model of a person's jaw, which comprises:

• the preparatory steps of:
• inserting a device for positional determination, which has marking points, into a person's oral cavity;
• taking at least one image of the person's jaw, including the marking points in the picture, and storing the picture in memory as a data set;
• identifying the marking points;
• taking an impression of the jaw and forming a model of the jaw;
• and the representing steps of:
• inserting the device for positional determination into the model in a same position as in the taking step, the device being equipped with a 3D sensor;
• determining a positional relationship between the 3D sensor of the device and a second 3D sensor on the model of the jaw;
• removing the device for positional determination;
• generating a superposition of an optical image of the model and the data set in a positionally correct relationship.

A method for representing a person's jaw and a model thereof, which comprises:

• the preparatory steps of:
• inserting a device for positional determination, which has marking points, into a person's oral cavity;
• taking at least one image of the person's jaw, including the marking points in the picture, and storing the picture in memory as a data set;
• identifying the marking points;
• taking an impression of the jaw and forming a model of the jaw;
• and the representing steps of:
• bringing a first 3D sensor to the person's jaw;
• determining a positional relationship between the first 3D sensor and a second 3D sensor disposed on the device;
• removing the device for positional determination;
• bringing a further 3D sensor to a model of the jaw;
• inserting the device for positional determination into the model in a same position as in the taking step;
• determining a positional relationship between the 3D sensor of the device and a second 3D sensor on the model of the jaw;
• removing the device for positional determination;
• generating a superposition of an optical image of the jaw and the data set in a positionally correct relationship.

A method for representing a person's jaw and/or of a model thereof, which comprises:

• the preparatory steps of:
• inserting a device for positional determination into a person's oral cavity, the device having optically visible marking points;
• taking at least one picture of the person's jaw, including the marking points in the picture, and storing the picture in memory as a data set;
• and the representing steps of:
• bringing a 3D sensor to the jaw;
• preparing at least one photographic image of the jaw;
• removing the device for positional determination;
• preparing at least one further photographic image of the jaw from the same position;
• storing the photographic images in memory as a data set;
• finding a match of the marking points on the picture and the photographic image;
• superimposing an optical image of the jaw and the data set in a positionally correct relationship.

In combination with a system for representing one of a person's jaw and a model thereof, wherein a device for positional determination is inserted into a person's oral cavity, an image is taken of the person's jaw, the image is stored in memory as a data set;

• a 3D sensor is placed externally of the person's jaw or of the model thereof;
• a positional relationship between the 3D sensor and the device for positional determination is determined;
• and an optical image of the jaw or of the model is superimposed on the data set in the positionally correct relationship;
• a device for positional determination, comprising:
• a device body adapted to be inserted into a person's oral cavity and to be held by the person's upper jaw and lower jaw in an unambiguously reproducible position, marking points defined on said device body which are identifiable by an imaging method, and a position sensor mounted on said device body for enabling precise determination of the three-dimensional position of the device.