Methods for use in dental articulation

US7347690B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Russell A. Jordan · Rancho Cucamonga, US
• James D. Hansen · White Bear Lake, US
• Joseph M. Caruso · Redlands, US
• Patrick Dufour · Laconia, US
• Baruch Nissenbaum · Ramat Gan, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2001
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2008
• Expiry date: Jan 6, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61C9/0046
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A computer implemented method includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, providing bite alignment data representative of the spatial relationship between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch of the patient, and aligning the upper and lower arch images relative to one another based on the bite alignment data until an aligned upper and lower arch image is attained. The aligned upper and lower arch images are moved towards each other until a first contact point is detected and at least one of the upper and lower arch images is moved relative to the other in one or more directions to a plurality of positions for determining optimal occlusion position of the lower and upper dental arches.