Prosthodontic and orthodontic apparatus and methods

Abstract

System and method for developing a treatment plan for achieving a treatment goal including creating a virtual model of a dental patient's dentition; transforming the virtual model of the dentition using virtual prosthodontics to facilitate achievement of the treatment goal; transforming the virtual model of the dentition using virtual orthodontics to facilitate achievement of the treatment goal; iterating on the transforming steps until substantially achieving the treatment goal; and generating an orthodontic treatment plan and a prosthodontic treatment plan based upon the substantially achieved treatment goal

1 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method for generating dental information of a patient comprising:
 creating a virtual model of a patient's dentition in a first configuration, the dentition including at least one tooth having a reference volume;   generating a model volume created as the at least one tooth is moved from the first configuration to a second configuration; and   subtracting the reference volume from the model volume to yield a build-up volume.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the virtual model is created in a prepared configuration. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising determining a removed volume by subtracting a volume of the dentition in the prepared configuration from the reference volume. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising determining a restoration volume by combining the removed volume and the build-up volume. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising:
 transforming the virtual model of the patient's dentition from the first configuration into a first intermediate configuration;   generating a first intermediate model volume created as the at least one tooth is moved from the first intermediate configuration to the second configuration;   subtracting the reference volume from the first intermediate model volume to yield a first intermediate build-up volume; and   determining if the effect of the transforming step on the first intermediate build-up volume is a desired effect.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 determining a removed volume by subtracting a volume of the dentition in the prepared configuration from the reference volume; and   determining a restoration volume by combining the removed volume and the first intermediate build-up volume.   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 transforming the virtual model of the patient's dentition from the first configuration into a second intermediate configuration;   generating a second intermediate model volume created as the at least one tooth is moved from the second intermediate configuration to the second configuration;   subtracting the reference volume from the second intermediate model volume to yield a second intermediate build-up volume; and   determining if the effect of the transforming step on the second intermediate build-up volume is a desired effect.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising:
 determining a removed volume by subtracting a volume of the dentition in the prepared configuration from the reference volume; and   determining a restoration volume by combining the removed volume and the second intermediate build-up volume.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein generating the model volume comprises:
 determining the volume of the virtual space occupied by the at least one tooth as the at least one tooth is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising:
 verifying whether the build-up volume overlaps at least one of a virtual tooth volume and a virtual veneer volume of a neighboring tooth.   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 deforming the build-up volume to resolve the overlap.   
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein creating the virtual model of a patient's dentition comprises generating a reference contour mesh crown representing a surface boundary of the at least one tooth. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein generating the model volume comprises:
 calculating a virtual space occupied by the reference contour mesh crown as the reference contour mesh crown is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.   
     
     
         82 . A system for generating dental information of a patient comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 create a virtual model of a patient's dentition in a first configuration, the dentition including at least one tooth having a reference volume; 
 generate a model volume created as the at least one tooth travels from the first configuration to a second configuration; and 
 subtract the reference volume from the model volume to yield a build-up volume. 
   
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 82 , wherein the processor is further configured to create a virtual model of a patient's dentition in a prepared configuration. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a removed volume by subtracting a volume of the dentition in the prepared configuration from the reference volume. 
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 84 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a restoration volume by adding the removed volume and the build-up volume. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 82 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transform the virtual model of the patient's dentition from the first configuration into a first intermediate configuration;   generate a first intermediate model volume created as the at least one tooth travels from the first intermediate configuration to the second configuration; and   subtract the reference volume from the first intermediate model volume to yield a first intermediate build-up volume.   
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transform the virtual model of the patient's dentition from the first configuration into a second intermediate configuration;   generate a second intermediate model volume created as the at least one tooth travels from the second intermediate configuration to the second configuration; and   subtract the reference volume from the second intermediate model volume to yield a second intermediate build-up volume.   
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 82 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 verify whether the build-up volume overlaps at least one of a virtual tooth volume and a virtual veneer volume of a neighboring tooth.   
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 88 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 deform the build-up volume to resolve the overlap.   
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 85 , further comprising:
 a mechanism for displaying a virtual representation selected from the group consisting of at least one of a virtual representation of the first configuration, a virtual representation of the build-up volume, a virtual representation of the restoration volume, a virtual representation of the removed volume, a virtual representation of the second configuration, a virtual representation of the prepared configuration, and a virtual representation of the reference volume.