Impressionless dental modeling systems and methods

Abstract

Dental systems and methods related to impressionless dental modeling. A dental modeling system includes a dental model base and a mounting plate. The dental model base includes a plate support surface and a plurality of pin receiving apertures formed in the support surface. The mounting plate includes a plate portion positioned on the plate support surface and a plurality of pins extending into the pin receiving apertures to provide removable attachment of the mounting plate to the dental model base. The plate portion includes a model support surface configured to support a model of a person's teeth. The model may be formed directly on the model support surface using an impressionless technique. The model may be formed separately using an impressionless technique and then bonded to the model support surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a dental model base, a mounting plate, at least one removable pin, and a dental model of at least one tooth, the dental model base including a plate mounting surface with a plurality of pin apertures formed therein, the at least one removable pin permanently mounted to the mounting plate and insertable into the plurality of pin apertures to removable mount the mounting plate to the dental model base, the mounting plate defining a model mounting surface;   positioning the dental model directly on the model mounting surface of the mounting plate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate includes a plurality of removable pins arranged at spaced apart locations that represent average spacing of teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising forming the dental model directly on the model mounting surface, and forming the dental model includes depositing a plurality of layers of model material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pin is aligned with an individual tooth of the dental model. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising covering the model mounting surface with a bonding agent before positioning the dental model on the model mounting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assembling the mounting plate and dental model base before positioning the dental model on the model mounting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plate mounting surface is planar and the mounting plate is arranged in its entirety above the plate mounting surface. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 providing a dental model base, a mounting plate, and a dental model of at least one tooth, the dental model base including a plate mounting surface having a plurality of pin apertures formed therein, and the mounting plate including a plurality of pins and a model mounting surface;   assembling the dental model base and mounting plate by inserting the plurality of pins into the plurality of pin apertures and supporting the mounting plate on the plate mounting surface;   securing the dental model directly on the model mounting surface, at least one tooth of the dental model being aligned with one of the plurality of pins of the mounting plate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pins are arranged at spaced apart locations that represent average spacing of teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising forming the dental model, and forming the dental model includes depositing a plurality of layers of model material with the rapid prototyping device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pins are permanently mounted to the mounting plate, and assembling the dental model base and the mounting plate includes removably inserting the plurality of pins into the plurality of pin apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of pins is aligned with a separate tooth of the dental model. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein securing the dental model base to the model mounting surface include applying an adhesive to the model mounting surface and positioning the dental model on the model mounting surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 connecting a dental model to a mounting plate, the mounting plate including a plurality of pins arranged at spaced apart locations that represent average spacing of teeth, one end of the plurality of pins being mounted to the mounting plate;   inserting an opposite end of the plurality of pins into a plurality of spaced apart pin apertures of a dental model base to releasably connect the mounting plate to the dental model base, the mounting plate being supported on a plate mounting surface of the dental model base, and the plurality of pin apertures being formed in the plate mounting surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming the dental model by depositing a plurality of layers of model material on the mounting plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of pins are permanently mounted to the mounting plate, the mounting plate defining a model mounting surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising assembling the dental model base and the mounting plate prior to connecting the dental model to the mounting plate by inserting the plurality of pins into the plurality of pin apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of pins is aligned with a separate tooth of the dental model. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming the dental model using 3 dimensional (3D) printing, forming the dental model using cast stone, or forming the dental model from a polymer material. 
     
     
         20 . A dental modeling assembly, comprising:
 a pre-formed dental model base comprising:
 a support surface; 
 a plurality of pin apertures formed in the support surface, each pin aperture being positioned at an average tooth location for a given mouth size; 
   a mounting plate comprising a plate portion and a plurality of alignment pins sized and arranged to be inserted into the plurality of pin apertures, the plate portion being configured to support a model of a person's teeth;   an alignment jig, comprising:
 a support base; 
 a pedestal extending vertically from the support base; 
 a support stand extending vertically from the support base; 
 a pin locator mounted to the support stand and comprising a plurality of locator pins; 
   wherein the alignment jig is operable to position the locator pins adjacent to teeth portions of the model when the dental model base is releasably mounted to the pedestal and the model of a person's teeth is supported on the plate portion.