Method of designing dental prosthesis model and computer program product therefor

A method of designing, by way of a computer, a dental prosthesis model to be attached to a plurality of parts of upper and lower jaw dentitions which are to be restored, said method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a dentition configuration diagram resulting from an image conversion of dentition configuration data obtained by measurement of a three-dimensional configuration of upper and lower jaw dentitions of a subject;
• reading out, from a database containing pontic model data respectively indicating standard pontic models which correspond to configurations of individual teeth, pontic model data respectively corresponding to teeth of said plurality of parts;
• making, based on at least one piece of pontic model data in said read-out pontic model data, crown model data indicating a crown region;
• displaying a crown model and a pontic model respectively resulting from image conversions of said crown model data and remaining pontic model data so that said crown model and pontic model are superimposed on said dentition configuration diagram;
• deforming each of said crown and pontic models so that each of said crown and pontic models forms a desired gap with respect to pairing and adjacent teeth and a gum without interfering therewith;
• and
• making a bridge model by connecting said crown and pontic models to each other.

A computer program product for designing a dental prosthesis model, to be used in conjunction with a computer, said computer comprising a storage device for storing a database containing pontic model data respectively indicating standard pontic models corresponding to configurations of individual teeth, an input device, a display device, and a reading device for reading out information from a medium which is usable by said computer;

• said product comprising:
• a dental prosthesis model designing program, which is readable by said computer and materialized in said medium, for designing by way of said computer, based on said pontic model data, a dental prosthesis model to be attached to a part in upper and lower jaw dentitions which is to be restored;
• said dental prosthesis model designing program comprising:
• a dentition configuration diagram displaying program for displaying, on said display device, a dentition configuration diagram resulting from an image conversion of dentition configuration data obtained by measurement of a three-dimensional configuration of upper and lower jaw dentitions of a subject;
• a pontic model data reading program for reading out, from said database, pontic model data corresponding to a tooth of said part;
• a crown model data making program for making, based on said read-out pontic model data, crown model data indicating a crown region;
• a superimposition displaying program for displaying a crown model resulting from an image conversion of said crown model data so that said crown model is superimposed on said dentition configuration diagram;
• and
• a model deforming program for deforming said crown model so that said crown model forms a desired gap with respect to pairing and adjacent teeth and a gum without interfering therewith.

A computer program product for designing a dental prosthesis model, to be used in conjunction with a computer, said computer comprising a storage device for storing a database containing pontic model data respectively indicating standard pontic models corresponding to configurations of individual teeth, an input device, a display device, and a reading device for reading out information from a medium which is usable by said computer;

• said product comprising:
• a dental prosthesis model designing program, which is readable by said computer and materialized in said medium, for designing by way of said computer, based on said pontic model data, dental prosthesis models to be attached to a plurality of parts in upper and lower jaw dentitions which are to be restored;
• said dental prosthesis model designing program comprising:
• a dentition configuration diagram displaying program for displaying, on said display device, a dentition configuration diagram resulting from an image conversion of dentition configuration data obtained by measurement of a three-dimensional configuration of upper and lower jaw dentitions of a subject;
• a pontic model data reading program for reading out, from said database, pontic model data respectively corresponding to teeth of said plurality of parts;
• a crown model data making program for making, based on at least one piece of pontic model data in said read-out pontic model data, crown model data indicating a crown region;
• a superimposition displaying program for displaying a crown model and a pontic model respectively resulting from image conversions of said crown model data and remaining pontic model data so that said crown model and pontic model are superimposed on said dentition configuration diagram;
• a model deforming program for deforming each of said crown and pontic models so that each of said crown and pontic models forms a desired gap with respect to pairing and adjacent teeth and a gum without interfering therewith;
• and
• a model connecting program for connecting said crown and pontic models to each other so as to make a bridge model.

A method of deforming a pontic model that includes pontic model data, comprising:

• creating deforming region definition data that indicates a plurality of deforming regions divided by an interface passing through a groove of an occlusal surface in said pontic model;
• and
• extending from said groove to a base surface of said pontic model,
• wherein said pontic model is deformed by using each of said deforming regions as a unit.