System and method for manufacturing of dental crowns and crown components

Abstract

A method of manufacturing custom crown coping and infrastructures is provided. A metal portion (base) of an abutment is located in a model of a patient's mouth and the model is scanned. The data from the scan is then utilized to manufacture the ceramic portion of the abutment and the coping. In one embodiment, the coping and infrastructure is designed by first determining the shape and orientation of the final crown, subtracting a thickness for the crown from the shape to determine the shape and orientation of a coping, and subtracting a thickness for the coping to form the shape and orientation of an abutment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of creating digital job information for at least one component of a dental restoration to be manufactured selected from the group consisting of a crown, multi-tooth unit, bridge, coping, crown coping, core, abutment and infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining information regarding a physical indication of a patient's mouth;   determining an outer shape of a dental restoration based on the physical indication of the patient's mouth;   determining a manufacturing parameter for a component of the dental restoration to be manufactured based upon the determined shape of the dental restoration;   wherein the determined manufacturing parameter is selected from a plurality of determined parameter options; and   creating the digital job information based upon the determined manufacturing parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the determined parameter options include a variety of material options from which the component is designed to be manufactured. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the material options include a material shape, size, configuration and/or consistency. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the determined parameter options include a variety of manufacturing methods. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein one of the variety of manufacturing methods includes utilizing multiple manipulations at one time simultaneously. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the step of utilizing multiple manipulations comprises utilizing multiple tools. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein at least one of the tools comprises a cutting tool. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein one of the variety of manufacturing methods includes utilizing multiple manipulations contemporaneously. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the utilizing multiple manipulations comprises utilizing multiple tools. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein at least one of the tools comprises a cutting tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein one of the variety of manufacturing methods includes utilizing one of a plurality of machines. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the determining step comprises organizing a material and a manufacturing method. 
     
     
         13 . A method of creating digital job information for manufacturing a custom component of a dental restoration, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining information regarding a physical indication of a patient's mouth including data regarding a transfer medium and data regarding the conditions in the patient's mouth proximate to the restoration under development;   utilizing the obtained information together with stored information regarding the transfer medium to design a component of a dental restoration; and   creating the digital job information comprising the transfer medium and component design information for use in manufacturing the custom component.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  said transfer medium provides data regarding hidden conditions in the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said transfer medium provides data regarding observable conditions in the patient's mouth 
     
     
         16 . A custom component of a dental restoration manufactured by the steps of:
 obtaining information regarding a physical indication of a patient's mouth including data regarding a transfer medium and data regarding the conditions in the patient's mouth proximate to the restoration under development;   utilizing the obtained information together with stored information regarding the transfer medium to design a custom component of a dental restoration; and   creating digital job information comprising the transfer medium and component design information for use in manufacturing the custom component; and   manufacturing the custom component using the digital job information.   
     
     
         17 . A method of creating digital job information for manufacturing a dental restoration, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining information regarding a physical indication of a patient's mouth including data regarding transfer medium and data regarding the conditions in the patient's mouth proximate to the restoration under development;   utilizing the obtained information together with stored information regarding the transfer medium to design one or more pieces for a dental restoration; and   creating the digital job information comprising the transfer medium and restoration design information for use in manufacturing the restoration.   
     
     
         18 . A computer implemented system for designing a dental restoration comprising:
 an input for receiving information regarding a physical indication of a patient's mouth including data regarding a transfer medium and data regarding the conditions in the patient's mouth proximate to the restoration under development;   a tool for utilizing the obtained information together with stored information regarding the transfer medium to create digital job information comprising the transfer medium and restoration design information for use in manufacturing the restoration;   wherein said restoration design information is determined to purposefully optimize the restoration.   
     
     
         19 . A method of creating digital job information for manufacturing a dental restoration, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining information regarding a physical indication of a patient's mouth including data regarding the conditions in the patient's mouth proximate to the restoration under development;   utilizing the obtained information together with stored information regarding an adaptable framework for holding raw materials during manufacturing of the restoration to design one or more pieces for a dental restoration; and   creating the digital job information comprising the adaptable framework and restoration design information for use in manufacturing the restoration.