System and method for modeling and application of interproximal reduction of teeth

A computerized method for interproximal reduction (IPR) tooth modeling of a patient to facilitate orthodontic treatment, said computerized method for IPR tooth modeling comprising:

• determining, using a computer, whether a first tooth has a potential for overlap with any neighboring teeth;
• generating, using the computer, an IPR tooth model for the first tooth based on the potential for overlap with any neighboring teeth including constructing a stripping surface for the first tooth by constructing a stripping plane for the first tooth by determining a normal direction of the plane based on local coordinate systems for the first tooth or other appropriate references and any neighboring teeth, and determining a target point between contours associated with the first tooth and the neighboring teeth, with the stripping plane being constructed to pass through the target point and in the normal direction;
• and
• developing, using the computer, an orthodontic treatment plan to facilitate the movement of the first tooth and the neighboring teeth from an initial position to a final position using the IPR tooth model, and wherein the using the IPR tooth model includes computer visualization of the IPR tooth model.

A computerized method for facilitating orthodontic treatment planning, said computerized method comprising:

• determining, using a computing device, whether stripping is needed for a tooth between any neighboring teeth based on potential collision with the neighboring teeth;
• generating, using the computing device, an interproximal reduction (IPR) tooth model for said tooth based on the potential collision with the neighboring teeth including constructing a stripping surface for the tooth by constructing a stripping plane for the tooth by determining a normal direction of the stripping plane based on local coordinate systems for the tooth or other appropriate references and at least one neighboring tooth, and determining a target point between contours associated with the tooth and the at least one neighboring tooth, with the stripping plane being constructed to pass through the target point and in the normal direction;
• and
• determining, using the computing device, a stripping amount for said tooth using the IPR tooth model.

A computerized method for modeling and application of interproximal reduction for a tooth comprising:

• determining, using a computer, whether stripping is needed for a tooth between any neighboring teeth based on potential collision with the neighboring teeth;
• generating, using the computer, an interproximal reduction (IPR) tooth model for said tooth by constructing a modified tooth geometry based on the potential collision with the neighboring teeth including constructing a stripping surface for the tooth by constructing a stripping plane for the tooth by determining a normal direction of the stripping plane based on local coordinate systems for the tooth or other appropriate references and at least one neighboring tooth, and determining a target point between contours associated with the tooth and the at least one neighboring tooth, with the stripping plane being constructed to pass through the target point and in the normal direction;
• and
• determining, using the computer, a stripping amount for said tooth, including generating a three-dimensional representation illustrating a stripped portion from the tooth equivalent to the stripping amount to provide a computer visualization of the stripped tooth.

A method of digitally representing an interproximal reduction (IPR) tooth model for a plurality of teeth of a patient wherein the digital representation of the IPR for said plurality of teeth are generated using a computing device performing the following process:

• determining whether stripping is needed for a first tooth with a second tooth within said plurality of teeth;
• generating an IPR tooth model for said first tooth based on the potential collision with the second tooth including constructing a stripping surface for the tooth by constructing a stripping plane for the first tooth by determining a normal direction of the stripping plane based on local coordinate systems for the first tooth or other appropriate references and the second tooth, and determining a target point between contours associated with the first tooth and the second tooth, with the stripping plane being constructed to pass through the target point and in the normal direction;
• determining a stripping amount for said first tooth using the IPR tooth model;
• and
• repeating said process for remainder of said plurality of teeth.

A computerized system for interproximal reduction (IPR) tooth modeling of a patient to facilitate orthodontic treatment, said computerized system comprising:

• a microprocessor;
• and
• a memory device including instructions for a plurality of algorithms;
• wherein the microprocessor is configured for:
• determining whether stripping is needed for a tooth between any neighboring teeth based on a potential for collision with the neighboring teeth;
• generating an interproximal reduction (IPR) tooth model for said tooth based on the potential collision with the neighboring teeth including constructing a stripping surface for the tooth by constructing a stripping plane for the tooth by determining a normal direction of the stripping plane based on local coordinate systems for the tooth or other appropriate references and at least one neighboring tooth, and determining a target point between contours associated with the tooth and the at least one neighboring tooth, with the stripping plane being constructed to pass through the target point and in the normal direction;
• and
• determining a stripping amount for said tooth using the IPR tooth model.