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US 9,844,429 B2Granted
Method and system for fabricating a dental coping, and a coping fabricated thereby
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsAvi Kopelman, Eldad Taub
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wax model of a required coping is produced using CNC machining techniques based on a virtual model of the coping created from digital data obtained from the intraoral cavity. The dental coping is then fabricated from the wax model.
Claims22
A system for fabricating a wax model of a dental coping shaped to fit over a tooth preparation in a patient's intraoral cavity, the system comprising:
- a wax material configured to be fabricated into the wax model of the dental coping;
- a milling machine configured to fabricate the wax model of the dental coping from the wax material;
- and
- one or more computer-readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- receive 3D digital data of the patient's intraoral cavity comprising the tooth preparation, the 3D digital data comprising an enamel thickness of the tooth preparation,
- generate, in response to the 3D digital data, a 3D virtual model of a dental coping based on the enamel thickness comprising an inner surface shaped to fit over at least a portion of the tooth preparation and an outer surface disposed between the inner surface and an outer surface of a tooth prosthesis, wherein the 3D virtual model of the dental coping is generated based on the enamel thickness of the tooth preparation,
- generate a computerized numerical control (CNC) set of wax fabrication instructions for fabricating the wax model of the dental coping based on the 3D virtual model of the dental coping, and
- transmit the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions to the milling machine, wherein the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions is configured to cause the milling machine to fabricate the wax model of the dental coping from the wax material.
5 more elements
A method for fabricating a wax model of a dental coping shaped to fit over a tooth preparation in a patient's intraoral cavity, the method comprising:
- providing a wax material configured to be fabricated into the wax model of the dental coping;
- providing a milling machine configured to fabricate the wax model of the dental coping from the wax material;
- and
- providing one or more computer-readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- receive 3D digital data of the patient's intraoral cavity comprising the tooth preparation, the 3D digital data comprising an enamel thickness of the tooth preparation,
- generate, in response to the 3D digital data, a 3D virtual model of a dental coping based on the enamel thickness comprising an inner surface shaped to fit over at least a portion of the tooth preparation and an outer surface disposed between the inner surface and an outer surface of a tooth prosthesis, wherein the 3D virtual model of the dental coping is generated based on the enamel thickness of the tooth preparation,
- generate a computerized numerical control (CNC) set of wax fabrication instructions for fabricating the wax model of the dental coping based on the 3D virtual model of the dental coping, and
- transmit the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions to the milling machine, wherein the CNC set of wax fabrication instructions is configured to cause the milling machine to fabricate the wax model of the dental coping from the wax material.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.