Gingiva modeling
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorEric E. Kuo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are provided for modeling gingiva. One method embodiment includes scanning a patient's teeth and gums, or a physical model thereof, to obtain location data, developing a digital model via a computing device, where the model represents a dentition and gingiva from the location data, defining in the model a gingival line at an intersection between at least one tooth and at least a portion of its surrounding gums, measuring a gingival pocket depth at a number of reference locations, and establishing in the model one or more gingival attachment points at the pocket depth from the gingival line.
Claims19
A computing device-implemented method for modeling gingiva, the method comprising:
- scanning a patient's teeth and gums, or a physical model thereof, to obtain location data;
- developing a digital model via a computing device, where the model represents a dentition and gingiva from the location data;
- defining in the model a gingival line at an intersection between at least one tooth and at least a portion of its surrounding gums;
- measuring a gingival pocket depth at a number of reference locations;
- establishing in the model one or more gingival attachment points at the pocket depth from the gingival line;
- and
- deriving in the model an expected gum tissue configuration surrounding a particular tooth based on changes to the gingival line and one or more gingival attachment points;
- and
- deriving a cut line for one or more dental position adjustment appliances, where the cut line is associated with a dynamically modeled gingival line.
A computing system, comprising:
- a processor;
- a data storage device communicatively coupled to the processor, the data storage device containing executable instructions to cause a computing device to:
- receive location data obtained from a scan of a patient's teeth and gums, or a physical model thereof;
- develop a digital model representing a dentition and gingiva from the location data;
- define in the model a gingival line at an intersection between at least one tooth and at least a portion of its surrounding gums;
- receive distance data obtained from a measurement of gingival pocket depth at a number of reference locations;
- establish in the model one or more gingival attachment points at the pocket depth from the gingival line;
- and
- deriving in the model an expected gum tissue configuration surrounding a particular tooth based on changes to the gingival line and one or more gingival attachment points;
- and
- deriving a cut line for one or more dental position adjustment appliances, where the cut line is associated with a dynamically modeled gingival line.
A non-transitory computing device readable medium having executable instructions which can be executed by a processor to cause a computing device to perform a method, comprising:
- receiving location data obtained from a scan of a patient's teeth and gums, or a physical model thereof;
- developing a digital model representing a dentition and gingiva from the location data;
- defining in the model a gingival line at an intersection between at least one tooth and at least a portion of its surrounding gums;
- receiving distance data obtained from a measurement of gingival pocket depth at a number of reference locations;
- establishing in the model one or more gingival attachment points at the pocket depth from the gingival line;
- and
- deriving in the model an expected gum tissue configuration surrounding a particular tooth based on changes to the gingival line and one or more gingival attachment points;
- and
- deriving a cut line for one or more dental position adjustment appliances, where the cut line is associated with a dynamically modeled gingival line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.