Method for producing a dentist tool

Abstract

Method for producing a dentist tool formed by an overlay to be used by a dentist in removing tooth structure, said method comprising the steps of: acquiring three-dimensional data relating to a shape of a tooth and at least a part of a neighbouring tooth; processing said three-dimensional data with a computer so as to determine an overlay fitting said tooth and fitting at least said part of said neighbouring tooth; further processing said three-dimensional data with said computer so as to determine a predetermined part of tooth structure to be removed from said tooth so as to prepare said tooth for further treatment; determining at least two guiding edges of which a first and a second guiding edge are spaced apart from each other by a distance d of at least 0.5 mm, said guiding edges being configured so as to enable said dentist cutting tool to be guided by simultaneously contacting said first and said second guiding edge in such a manner as to enable a guided removal of at least partially said predetermined part of tooth structure; producing said determined overlay having said determined guiding edges.

1 . Method for producing a dentist tool formed by an overlay ( 1 ) to be used by a dentist in removing tooth structure, said method comprising the steps of:
 acquiring three-dimensional data relating to a shape of at least one predetermined tooth and at least a part of a neighbouring tooth of said predetermined tooth;   processing said three-dimensional data with a computer so as to determine an overlay ( 1 ) fitting said tooth and fitting at least said part of said neighbouring tooth;   determining guiding means ( 7 ) within said overlay ( 1 ), suitable for guiding a dentist cutting tool;   producing said determined overlay ( 1 ) having said determined guiding means ( 7 ), characterized in that said method comprises the further steps of:   before determining said guiding means ( 7 ), determining a predetermined part of tooth structure to be removed from said tooth so as to prepare said tooth for further treatment;   determining at least two guiding edges of which a first and a second guiding edge are spaced apart from each other by a distance d of at least 0.5 mm, said guiding edges being part of said guiding means ( 7 ), said guiding edges being configured so as to enable said dentist cutting tool to be guided by simultaneously contacting said first and said second guiding edge in such a manner as to enable a guided removal of at least partially said predetermined part of tooth structure.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said first and said second guiding edge are designed for simultaneously contacting said dentist cutting tool at contacting points being longitudinally distanced from each other by said distance d, said guiding edges thereby defining a guiding surface along which said dentist cutting tool is to be guided. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that in determining said guiding means, a guiding groove is determined, which defines a path extending in a surface of said overlay and suitable for guiding said dentist cutting tool along said path in such a manner as to enable a guided removal of at least partially said predetermined part of tooth structure. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the method comprises the further steps of:
 determining a tooth restoration part having an inner shape so as to fit a remaining part of tooth structure after removal of tooth structure of said tooth, and having an outer shape so as to fit together with remaining neighbouring teeth;   producing said tooth restoration part.   
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said predetermined part is determined by:
 firstly determining a tooth restoration part having an outer shape so as to fit together with remaining neighbouring teeth, and having an inner shape compatible with said outer shape;   secondly determining a shape of remaining tooth structure so that said tooth restoration part having said inner shape fits said shape of remaining tooth structure;   thirdly determining said predetermined part as being the part of tooth structure to be removed so as to have said shape of remaining tooth structure left.   
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , characterised in that said method further comprises the step of producing said tooth restoration part. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said dental cutting tool comprises a cutting portion and a collar, one of said at least two guiding edges being designed to guide said collar along so as to enable said dentist cutting tool to be guided into a longitudinal position. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1  characterised in that said removal of tooth structure is to be performed in a plurality of stages in which said guiding means is provided to guide said cutting tool in a first stage of said plurality of stages, and at least one further guiding means is provided to guide said cutting tool in at least one further stage, the method further comprising the steps of:
 determining said at least one further guiding means ( 7 ) each comprising at least two further guiding edges of which a further first and a further second guiding edge are spaced apart from each other by a distance d of at least 0.5 mm, said further first and said further second guiding edges being provided for simultaneously contacting said dentist cutting tool thereby guiding said dentist cutting tool in such a manner as to enable a guided removal of at least partially said predetermined part of tooth structure;   producing at least one further overlay ( 1 ) each having one of said at least one further guiding means ( 7 ).   
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 8 , characterised in that said overlay and said at least one further overlay form a set of overlays to be used by a dentist in removing tooth structure for placing a crown or a bridge, said set of overlays comprising five overlays in which:
 a first overlay is determined so as to smoothen an upper part of the tooth thereby considering the desired height of the remaining tooth structure;   a second overlay is determined so as to cut away one of the longitudinal or transversal sides of the tooth;   a third overlay is determined so as to cut away the other of the longitudinal or transversal sides of the tooth;   a fourth overlay is determined so as to round off edges between the longitudinal and transversal sides of the tooth at one side of the tooth;   a fifth overlay is determined so as to round off edges between the longitudinal and transversal sides of the tooth at the other side of the tooth.   
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterised in said overlays are produced via rapid prototyping. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1  characterised in that said distance d is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, more preferably at least 3 mm, most preferably at least 4 mm. 
     
     
         12 . Overlay ( 1 ) to be used by a dentist in removing tooth structure from a tooth of a patient, which tooth is to be prepared for further treatment, said overlay ( 1 ) being obtainable by the method as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . Set of overlays ( 1 ) to be used by a dentist in removing tooth structure from a tooth of a patient, which tooth is to be prepared for further treatment, said set of overlays ( 1 ) being obtainable by the method as claimed in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         14 . Method for preparing a tooth for further treatment using an overlay according to  claim 12 .