CN113134973A - Method for manufacturing shell-shaped dental instrument with accessories - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect of the present application provides a method of making an shell-like dental instrument with an attachment, the shell-like dental instrument with an attachment including a shell-like body and an attachment, the method comprising: acquiring a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped main body; setting a three-dimensional digital model of the attachment on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body, generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like dental instrument with the attachment; and manufacturing the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory by utilizing a 3D printing technology based on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory, wherein the shell-shaped main body is in a shell shape and is provided with a cavity for accommodating teeth, and the accessory is an element protruding out of the shell-shaped main body and is used for assisting the shell-shaped main body to realize a specific dental treatment function.

Description

Method for manufacturing shell-shaped dental instrument with accessories

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to methods of making shell-shaped dental instruments with attachments, and more particularly to methods of making shell-shaped dental instruments with attachments based on 3D printing techniques.

Background

Shell-like dental instruments (e.g., shell appliances, shell holders, etc.) based on polymeric materials are becoming increasingly popular for their aesthetic, convenience, and cleaning benefits.

In many cases, the shell-shaped dental instruments require specific functions to be performed by means of attachments, such as performing a traction function by means of a traction buckle, opening anterior occlusion by means of a flat guide plate or an inclined guide plate, adjusting the relative positional relationship of upper and lower jaws by means of a jaw plate, and opening posterior occlusion by means of a jaw pad.

The traditional manufacturing method of the shell-shaped dental instrument is based on a hot pressing film forming process, and the common methods for arranging the accessories on the shell-shaped dental instrument manufactured based on the process comprise two methods: one is to secure the separate accessory component to the shell-like dental instrument body (e.g., by adhesive, welding, and snap-fit structures, etc.); secondly, a solid body with the same shape as the accessory is formed at the corresponding part of the dental model, so that the shell-shaped dental appliance obtained by the hot-pressing film forming process on the dental model correspondingly forms the bubble-shaped accessory.

However, the inventors of the present application have found that the conventional shell-like dental instruments provided with attachments have the following disadvantages: ensuring the installation firmness degree and the positioning accuracy of the independent accessory element on the shell-shaped dental instrument has certain difficulty; the mounting of the accessories increases the manufacturing process of the shell-shaped dental instrument; (III) some accessories require a base with a large cross-section to meet the installation requirements (e.g. a traction buckle), which increases the overall height of the accessory, thus affecting the wearing comfort; (IV) the blister-like attachment is susceptible to deformation by force (e.g. the blister jaw plate is susceptible to collapsing by occlusion) and thus loses its intended function.

In view of the above, there is a need for a new method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect of the present application provides a method of making an shell-like dental instrument with an attachment, the shell-like dental instrument with an attachment including a shell-like body and an attachment, the method comprising: acquiring a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped main body; setting a three-dimensional digital model of the attachment on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body, generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like dental instrument with the attachment; and manufacturing the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory by utilizing a 3D printing technology based on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory, wherein the shell-shaped main body is in a shell shape and is provided with a cavity for accommodating teeth, and the accessory is an element protruding out of the shell-shaped main body and is used for assisting the shell-shaped main body to realize a specific dental treatment function.

In some embodiments, the appendage may be an element that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the shell-like body.

In some embodiments, the shell-like dental appliance may be a shell-like appliance with an attachment, the geometry of the cavity of the shell-like body being such that the shell-like appliance with an attachment is able to reposition teeth from a first configuration to a second configuration using a resilient force generated by the deformation.

In some embodiments, the accessory may be one of: flat guide plate, oblique guide plate, jaw board, jaw pad and draw and detain.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: acquiring a three-dimensional digital model of a tooth; and generating the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body by performing a wrapping operation on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth, so that the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body can wrap the teeth and the gaps between the teeth in the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth.

In some embodiments, for any of the interdental spaces, the inner surface fills at most only a portion thereof.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: generating an inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body by performing a wrapping operation on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth; generating an outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body based on the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth; and generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body based on the inner and outer surfaces.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: and generating a first three-dimensional digital model wrapping the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth, and taking the part of the surface of the first three-dimensional digital model corresponding to the dental crown as the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: and outwardly expanding a predetermined distance along the normal direction based on the first three-dimensional digital model, generating a second three-dimensional digital model, and taking the part of the surface of the second three-dimensional digital model corresponding to the dental crown as the outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body using the surface of the first three-dimensional digital model and the surface of the second three-dimensional digital model.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: obtaining a three-dimensional digital model of the accessory; and synthesizing the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory according to the relative position relationship between the shell-shaped main body and the accessory which is specified in advance.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: selecting a template for a three-dimensional digital model of the accessory; and generating a three-dimensional digital model of the accessory based on the template of the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory and the parameters of the accessory.

In some embodiments, the parameter of the accessory includes an accessory size.

In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment may further include: setting one of an inner surface and an outer surface of a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body as a boundary; bringing the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body and the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory into a specified relative positional relationship and ensuring that the side walls of the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory completely intersect the boundary; and cutting off the part of the bottom of the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory, which crosses the boundary, so as to obtain the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory.

Drawings

The above-described and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only several embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow chart of a method of making a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment according to one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 1A is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like body in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates an inner surface of a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like body in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates the relationship between the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body and the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3A illustrates an interface for wrapping a three-dimensional digital model of a tooth using Materialise 3-matic software in accordance with one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3B illustrates an interface of a closed surface obtained by a wrapping operation of a three-dimensional digital model of a tooth using Materialise 3-matic software according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a user interface of a computer program for generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates the user interface shown in FIG. 4A as it would appear when generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with a flat guide plate;

FIG. 5A schematically illustrates a user interface of a computer program for generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5B schematically illustrates the user interface shown in FIG. 5A as it would appear when generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with a pull button;

FIG. 5C schematically illustrates a gap between the tow clasp three dimensional digital model and the shell body three dimensional digital model in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5D schematically illustrates the three-dimensional digital model of the tow clasp and the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body as a whole after the gap between the three-dimensional digital model of the tow clasp and the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body as shown in FIG. 5C has been filled;

FIG. 6A schematically illustrates the relationship between the three-dimensional digital model of the tow clasp and the outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body as a boundary when the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body is in the installed position according to one embodiment of the present application; and

fig. 6B schematically shows the three-dimensional digital model of the tow clasp of fig. 6A after the border-crossing portion is cut away.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, like reference numerals generally refer to like parts throughout the various views unless the context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter described herein. It should be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

In order to solve the above problems of the conventional shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment, the inventors of the present application have developed a method for manufacturing a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment based on a 3D printing technique, and the shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment manufactured by the method can solve the above problems of the conventional art.

In one embodiment, the shell-like dental instrument with the attachment can be roughly divided into two parts: a shell-like body portion and an attachment portion. The shell-shaped main body is a thin shell body wrapping the teeth, and the accessory is a special structure formed by protruding outwards from the shell-shaped main body part so as to assist the shell-shaped main body to realize corresponding functions.

The shell-like body is an integral shell-like body that defines a cavity for receiving a tooth, typically having a geometry that substantially matches a particular arrangement of teeth. In one embodiment, the geometry of the cavity of the shell-like body may be such that the shell-like body is capable of repositioning the teeth from the first configuration to the second configuration using the elastic force created by the deformation. In yet another embodiment, the geometry of the cavity of the shell-like body may substantially match the current tooth layout of the patient.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic flow chart of a method 100 for making a shell-shaped dental appliance with an attachment according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

In 101, a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like body is obtained.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body may be obtained by performing a wrapping operation on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth.

Please refer to fig. 1A, which is a schematic flow chart of 101.

At 1011, a three-dimensional digital model of the tooth is acquired.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth may be a file in STL (stereolithography) format. The STL file format is an interface protocol established by 3D SYSTEMS in 1988, and is a three-dimensional graphics file format that serves rapid prototyping technology. The STL file is comprised of a plurality of definitions of triangle patches, each of which includes three-dimensional coordinates of each vertex of the triangle and a normal vector of the triangle patch. The STL model is essentially a three-dimensional body bounded by closed surfaces. The following examples will be described taking the STL model as an example. It will be appreciated in light of the present application that the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth may be expressed in terms of patches other than triangular patches, for example, quadrilateral patches, etc.

In one embodiment, the shell-like dental appliance with the attachment may be a dental appliance capable of repositioning teeth from a first arrangement to a second arrangement, and the three-dimensional digital model of teeth used to generate the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body thereof may be a three-dimensional digital model of dentition in the second arrangement. In yet another embodiment, the shell-like dental instrument with the attachment may be a dental instrument for adjusting only the upper and lower jaw positional relationship, and the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth used to generate the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body thereof may be a three-dimensional digital model of the patient's current dentition.

Repositioning teeth using shell appliances generally requires dividing the treatment into a plurality of successive corrective steps (e.g., 20-40 successive corrective steps), one shell appliance for each corrective step, for repositioning teeth from the initial placement of the corrective step to the target placement of the corrective step.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body can be generated based on a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition under the target layout corresponding to the step of correction.

In one embodiment, a target layout for a series of successive corrective steps can be generated based on a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition under the original layout prior to orthodontic treatment.

In one embodiment, a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the original layout may be obtained by directly scanning the patient's dental jaws. In yet another embodiment, a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the original layout may be obtained by scanning a solid model, such as a plaster model, of the patient's dental jaw. In yet another embodiment, a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the original layout may be obtained by scanning the bites of the patient's jaws.

In one embodiment, after the three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the original layout is obtained, it may be segmented such that the teeth in the three-dimensional digital model are independent of each other, thereby enabling individual movement of each tooth.

In one embodiment, a series of successive intermediate layouts, i.e., a series of successive orthodontic step target layouts, may be generated based on the original layout and the desired layout.

In one embodiment, a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the desired layout may be obtained based on the segmented three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the original layout.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the segmented original layout may be manually manipulated to move each tooth to a desired position to obtain the three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the desired layout. In yet another embodiment, a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the desired layout may be obtained using a computer by automatically moving each tooth to the desired position based on the three-dimensional digital model of the dentition in the segmented original layout.

In one embodiment, after obtaining the original layout and the desired layout, interpolation may be performed based on both to obtain a series of successive targeted layouts for the correction step.

In yet another embodiment, a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition under the original layout can be manually manipulated to directly obtain a target layout for a series of successive corrective steps.

In yet another embodiment, a computer may be used to automatically generate a series of successive orthodontic step target layouts based on a three-dimensional digital model of the dentition under the original layout using a particular method (e.g., a spatial search method).

At 1013, an inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body is generated based on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth.

Referring to fig. 2A, an inner surface 200 of a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like body in one embodiment of the present application is schematically illustrated. In one embodiment, the inner surface 200 of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body may be roughly divided into three portions according to the different portions of the tooth surface to which it corresponds: a labial portion 201, a lingual portion 203, and an occlusal portion 205.

In many cases, if the outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth is directly used as the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body, the gap between the teeth will be filled in the cavity of the shell-shaped dental appliance made based on the inner surface, which is between the buccal part and the lingual part of the inner surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance, which may make the shell-shaped dental appliance difficult to wear or even impossible to wear.

Thus, in one embodiment, a continuous surface that can wrap around all teeth and interdental spaces can be created based on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth as the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body. By controlling the stiffness or curvature of the portion of the surface that overlies the interproximal spaces between the teeth, the depth of the surface into the spaces is controlled so that for the portion of each tooth that is in close proximity to the adjacent tooth (for two adjacent teeth where a space exists, the portion of the two teeth that are in the space), the surface contacts at most only a portion of it in an encapsulated manner, and not the entire portion in an encapsulated manner. In other words, the surface fills at most only a part of the gap between the teeth, not completely. Alternatively, the surface extends only around the periphery of the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth, which surrounds a continuous unobstructed space.

Referring to fig. 2B, a relationship between the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body and the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth according to an embodiment of the present application is schematically shown, which is a cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the Z-axis of the world coordinate system. For simplicity, this view only shows the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body and a part of the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth. The inner surface 200 'wraps around the teeth 211', 213 ', and 215', and wraps around the gap 217 'between the teeth 211' and 213 'and the gap 219' between the teeth 213 'and 215'. Inner surface 200 ' does not extend through apertures 217 ' and 219 '.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth may be "wrapped" using a computer program such as Materialise 3-matic, Simpleware, HyperMesh, etc. to create a closed surface that encloses the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth, which may be the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body.

Referring to FIG. 3A, an interface for a wrapping operation of a three-dimensional digital model 301 of a tooth using Materialise 3-matic software is shown in an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to FIG. 3B, there is shown an enclosed surface 303 obtained after a wrapping operation is performed on the three-dimensional digital model 301 of teeth shown in FIG. 3A using Materialise 3-matic software according to one embodiment of the present application.

In some cases, a missing tooth is present in the dentition. In one embodiment, virtual teeth or correspondingly shaped entities may be added to the original three-dimensional digital model of the teeth (three-dimensional digital model of dentition where missing teeth exist) at the location of the missing teeth to fill the missing teeth. Then, an inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body is generated based on the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth filling the vacancy.

At 1015, an outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body is generated.

In one embodiment, the outer surface of the shell-like body may be obtained by outwardly expanding a predetermined distance (i.e., a predetermined thickness of the shell-like body) in a normal direction based on the inner surface of the shell-like body using computer software such as Materialise 3-matic, geogenic, mesh, and HyperMesh.

The function of the shell-like body (e.g., the function of repositioning teeth) is largely determined by the geometry of its inner surface, and thus, in addition to the method resulting from the inner surface being extended a predetermined distance, the outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body may be produced by other methods. In one embodiment, the flared outer surface may be smoothed so that the transition is more gradual throughout. In still another embodiment, a gentle curved surface may be generated as the outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body by setting a minimum thickness based on the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body or the surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth. A smoother, more gradual outer surface reduces the incidence of stress concentrations and helps to improve the mechanical properties of the shell-like dental instrument.

In 1017, a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body is generated based on the inner and outer surfaces of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body.

In one embodiment, where the inner and outer surfaces of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body are part of two closed surfaces (e.g., STL models), respectively, a new closed surface, i.e., the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body, may be created based on the inner and outer surfaces.

The following is a brief description of the process, taking the operation in the Geomagic software as an example: firstly, turning the normal of the inner surface; then, creating a separate object in conjunction with the inner and outer surfaces; then, connecting the partial positions between the inner surface and the outer surface in a "bridging" operation under "filling the single hole"; finally, the segments between the bridges are filled in operation with a fill "inner hole" under "fill single hole". It will be appreciated that in addition to the geographic software, other software may be used to create a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body, e.g., HyperMesh, based on the inner and outer surfaces, except that the operation may be slightly different.

In one embodiment, after the shell-like body three-dimensional digital model is obtained, it may be trimmed to remove excess portions of its edges so that the shell-like dental instruments made with it may be used directly without further trimming.

In one embodiment, the edges of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body may be treated to eliminate sharp portions and to round them, thereby preventing damage to the soft tissue of the patient when the shell-like dental appliance is worn.

In 103, an attachment three-dimensional digital model is placed at a selected location of the shell-like body three-dimensional digital model, generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like dental instrument with the attachment.

The accessories are of a wide variety including, but not limited to: flat guide plate, oblique guide plate, draw knot, jaw pad and jaw board etc..

The method for arranging the accessory three-dimensional digital model on the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model comprises the following methods:

and (I) controlling by using a computer, so that the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model is grown (i.e. extended outwards) out of the accessory three-dimensional digital model at a specified position along a specified direction. In one embodiment, a plurality of templates for attaching the three-dimensional digital model can be provided, and the user can select the corresponding template according to the requirement. Taking the pull tab as an example, the template of the pull tab can comprise the shapes of the rod part and the umbrella part, and a user can define the size (which can comprise the thickness and the diameter) of the rod part (which can comprise the diameter and the length) and the size (which can comprise the thickness and the diameter) of the umbrella part according to actual requirements.

And (II) placing the independent accessory three-dimensional digital model at a specified position close to the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model according to a specified direction by using a computer (the mounting surface of the accessory three-dimensional digital model can also be in contact with the surface of the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model, even partially enter the mounting surface of the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model but does not penetrate the surface opposite to the mounting surface), and then filling a gap between the mounting surface of the accessory three-dimensional digital model and the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model to obtain the integrated shell-shaped dental instrument three-dimensional digital model with the accessories. A number of computer programs for processing three-dimensional digital models have this functionality, for example, geogenic.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional digital model of the attachment can be generated based on a template, for example, a towing pintle, the template can include the basic structure of the towing pintle, i.e., a pole part and an umbrella part, and the user can define the sizes of the pole part and the umbrella part according to actual requirements and generate the three-dimensional digital model of the independent towing pintle based on the sizes.

And (III) using a computer to set the mounting surface of the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional model or the surface opposite to the mounting surface (if the mounting surface is an outer surface, the surface opposite to the outer surface is an inner surface) as a boundary, moving the independent accessory three-dimensional digital model towards the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model along a preset axis until the mounting part of the accessory three-dimensional digital model completely intersects with the mounting surface of the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model, wherein a part of the accessory three-dimensional digital model possibly penetrates through the boundary, and the part penetrating through the boundary is cut off by the boundary to obtain the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory.

The means and methods for editing the three-dimensional digital model are various, and it is understood that the method for providing the three-dimensional digital model of the attachment to the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped main body is not limited to the above, and any suitable method may be used.

The process of creating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment is described in more detail below in several specific embodiments.

The flat guide plate is generally a plate-like structure provided on the lingual side of the anterior maxillary teeth and substantially parallel to the occlusal surface, and serves to block the anterior mandibular teeth during occlusion to open the anterior occlusion. The oblique guide is similar to the flat guide except that it is not parallel to the occlusal surface, but is at an angle thereto. An example of providing a flat guide plate on a shell-like body in a "growing" manner is described in detail below.

Referring to fig. 4A, a user interface 400 of a computer program for generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment in one embodiment is schematically illustrated.

In some embodiments, the user interface 400 includes a main presentation area 401 and an attachment selection bar 403. The main display area 401 is used for displaying a shell-shaped main body three-dimensional model, so that a user can edit the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model through graphical interaction; the attachment selection bar 403 may graphically or textually display the attachments that are available for selection.

When the shell-like three-dimensional digital model 405 is introduced into the computer, it is graphically displayed in the main display area 401. The main presentation area 401 may also present edits to the shell-like body 405 in real time.

Firstly, a shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model 405 is imported; next, a flat template 407 is selected in the attachment selection field 403; then, the size of the flat guide plate can be set; then appointing the position and the direction of a flat guide plate arranged on the three-dimensional digital model 405 of the shell-shaped main body; finally, a flat guide plate is formed extending on the three-dimensional digital model 405 of the shell-like body according to the set size and the designated mounting position and orientation.

In one embodiment, the step of setting the accessory on the shell-like body three-dimensional digital model in a 'growing' manner may be that the computer system automatically completes installation according to accessory parameters and installation parameters input by a user, for example, the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory and/or the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body are moved into position according to the installation parameters, whether a gap exists between the accessory and the shell-like body is detected, and if the gap exists, the gap is automatically sewn; for another example, the three-dimensional digital model of the attachment and/or the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body are moved in accordance with the mounting parameters so as to be brought close to each other until the side wall of the three-dimensional digital model of the attachment completely intersects with the mounting surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body, and a portion of the three-dimensional digital model of the attachment which crosses the surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body which is set as a boundary is cut off.

Referring to fig. 4B, a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument 411 provided with flat plates 409a and 409B is schematically shown.

In one embodiment, the attachment may be configured to be hollow or solid, as desired (e.g., for mechanical strength).

The traction button can be arranged on the outer surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance and used for hanging a traction piece (such as a rubber band, a spring and the like) so as to generate traction force and assist the shell-shaped dental appliance to realize corresponding functions. The following describes an example of providing a tow clasp on a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like body in a "fill gap" manner.

Referring to fig. 5A, a user interface 400' of a computer program for generating a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment in one embodiment is schematically illustrated.

In some embodiments, the user interface 400 ' includes a main presentation area 401 ' and an attachment selection bar 403 '. The main display area 401' is used for displaying the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional model, so that a user can edit the shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model through graphical interaction; the attachment selection bar 403' may graphically or textually present the attachments available for selection.

When the shell-like three-dimensional digital model 405 'is introduced into the computer, it will be graphically displayed in the main display area 401'. The main presentation area 401 'may also present edits to the shell-like body 405' in real time.

Referring to fig. 5B, a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like dental instrument 411 'provided with a pull tab 409' is schematically illustrated.

Firstly, a shell-shaped main body three-dimensional digital model 405' is imported; next, a pull button template 407 'is selected in the attachment selection field 403'; then, the size of the tow clasp can be set; then appointing the position and the direction of a traction buckle arranged on the three-dimensional digital model 405' of the shell-shaped main body; then, according to the set size and the designated installation position and direction, the three-dimensional digital model 409 'of the traction buckle is moved to be close enough to the three-dimensional digital model 405' of the shell-shaped main body under the manual control or the automatic computer control; finally, the computer can be used to automatically fill the gap between the three-dimensional digital model 409 'of the traction button and the three-dimensional digital model 405' of the shell-shaped main body, so as to obtain the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument 411 'provided with the traction button 409'.

Referring to fig. 5C, a gap 413 ' between the tow clasp three-dimensional digital model 409 ' and the shell-like body three-dimensional digital model 405 ' is schematically shown.

Referring again to fig. 5D, the three-dimensional digital model 409 ' of the tow clasp and the three-dimensional digital model 405 ' of the shell-like body are schematically shown as a whole after the gap is filled, and the part between the dotted line and the shell-like body 405 ' is the filled part.

The towing clasp 409 'includes an umbrella portion 4091' and a rod portion 4093 'formed by extending from one side of the umbrella portion 4091', wherein the rod portion 4093 'is used for hanging the towing member and the umbrella portion 4091' is used for preventing the towing member from being dislocated.

The existing traction buckle is generally fixed on the shell-shaped main body in a bonding mode, and in order to ensure the bonding firmness, a base with a larger cross section is usually formed at the tail end of the rod part so as to increase the bonding surface with the shell-shaped main body, but the overall height of the traction buckle is increased, and the wearing comfort level is reduced. Reversely observing the shell-shaped dental instrument with the traction button manufactured by the method, the traction button and the shell-shaped main body are integrally manufactured by 3D printing, the firmness degree of the combination between the traction button and the shell-shaped main body is higher than that of bonding, and a base is not needed any more, so that the overall height of the traction button is reduced, and the wearing comfort level is improved.

The following describes an example of providing a tow clasp on a three-dimensional digital model of a shell-like body in a "cut-away" manner.

Referring to fig. 6A, there is schematically shown the relative positional relationship between the three-dimensional digital model 409 "of the tow clasp in the installed position and the outer surface 405" of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body as a boundary, in order to ensure that the side wall of the stem of the tow clasp completely intersects the outer surface 405 "of the shell-like body, with a portion 413" of the stem crossing the boundary 405 ".

Referring again to fig. 6B, the three-dimensional digital model 409 "of the tow clasp is schematically shown after the portion 413" of the tow clasp that crosses the boundary 405 "has been cut away.

In one embodiment, the operation of moving the three-dimensional digital model 409 "of the tow clasp to the installation position can be automatically completed by a computer, and during the moving process, the computer can detect whether the side wall of the rod part of the tow clasp completely intersects with the outer surface 405" of the shell-shaped main body, if so, the moving is stopped, otherwise, the three-dimensional digital model 409 "of the tow clasp can be continuously moved towards the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped main body.

At 105, a shell-shaped dental instrument with an attachment is fabricated using 3D printing techniques based on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the attachment.

Currently, most 3D printing apparatuses support STL format files. Although some 3D printing apparatuses of manufacturers support STP, OBJ, BREP, MAX, 3DM, 3DS, X _ T, SKP, SLDPRT, PRT, ASM, F3D, FBX, RVT, WIRE, and the like format files, it is rare.

If the 3D printing does not support the three-dimensional digital model file format of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the attachment obtained in 103, the three-dimensional digital model file format may be converted into a supported file format, for example, an STL file format, and then the converted file may be used to control the 3D printing device to manufacture the shell-shaped dental instrument with the attachment.

Currently, 3D printing devices suitable for making shell-like dental instruments include Stereolithography (SLA) devices (such as those provided by 3D Systems, inc.), Digital Light Processing (DLP) devices (such as those provided by Envision TEC, inc.), and polymer jet (PolyJet) devices (such as those provided by Stratasys, inc.), among others.

While various aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting. The scope and spirit of the application are to be determined only by the claims appended hereto.

Likewise, the various diagrams may illustrate an exemplary architecture or other configuration of the disclosed methods and systems that is useful for understanding the features and functionality that may be included in the disclosed methods and systems. The claimed subject matter is not limited to the exemplary architectures or configurations shown, but rather, the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. In addition, to the extent that flow diagrams, functional descriptions, and method claims do not follow, the order in which the blocks are presented should not be limited to the various embodiments which perform the recited functions in the same order, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms and phrases used herein, and variations thereof, are to be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. In some instances, the presence of an extensible term or phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to," or other similar terms should not be construed as intended or required to imply a narrowing in instances where such extensible terms may not be present.

Claims (14)

1. A method of making a shell-like dental appliance with an accessory, the shell-like dental appliance including a shell-like body and an accessory, the method comprising:

acquiring a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped main body;

setting a three-dimensional digital model of the attachment on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body, generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like dental instrument with the attachment; and

manufacturing the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory by utilizing a 3D printing technology based on the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory,

wherein the shell-shaped body is in a shell shape and forms a cavity for accommodating teeth, and the accessory is an element protruding out of the shell-shaped body and used for assisting the shell-shaped body to realize a specific dental treatment function.

2. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment is an element projecting outwardly from an outer surface of the shell-like body.

3. The method of making an shell-type dental appliance with attachment of claim 1, wherein the shell-type dental appliance with attachment is a shell-type appliance with attachment and the geometry of the cavity of the shell-type body is such that the shell-type appliance with attachment can reposition teeth from the first configuration to the second configuration using a spring-back force generated by deformation.

4. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment is one of: flat guide plate, oblique guide plate, jaw board, jaw pad and draw and detain.

5. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring a three-dimensional digital model of a tooth; and

and generating the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body by performing a wrapping operation on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth, so that the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body can wrap the teeth and the gaps between the teeth in the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth.

6. A method of making a shell-like dental implement with attachment according to claim 5, wherein for any of the interdental spaces, the inner surface fills at most only a part thereof.

7. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 5, further comprising:

generating an inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body by performing a wrapping operation on the three-dimensional digital model of the teeth;

generating an outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body based on the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth; and

based on the inner and outer surfaces, a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body is generated.

8. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 7, further comprising: and generating a first three-dimensional digital model wrapping the three-dimensional digital model of the tooth, and taking the part of the surface of the first three-dimensional digital model corresponding to the dental crown as the inner surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body.

9. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 8, further comprising: and outwardly expanding a predetermined distance along the normal direction based on the first three-dimensional digital model, generating a second three-dimensional digital model, and taking the part of the surface of the second three-dimensional digital model corresponding to the dental crown as the outer surface of the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body.

10. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 9, further comprising: generating a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body using the surface of the first three-dimensional digital model and the surface of the second three-dimensional digital model.

11. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment according to claim 1 or 5, further comprising:

obtaining a three-dimensional digital model of the accessory; and

and synthesizing the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped body and the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory into the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory according to the relative position relation of the shell-shaped body and the accessory which is specified in advance.

12. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 11, further comprising:

selecting a template for a three-dimensional digital model of the accessory; and

generating a three-dimensional digital model of the accessory based on the template of the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory and the parameters of the accessory.

13. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 12, wherein the parameters of the attachment include attachment size.

14. A method of making a shell-like dental instrument with an attachment as in claim 11, further comprising:

setting one of an inner surface and an outer surface of a three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body as a boundary;

bringing the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-like body and the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory into a specified relative positional relationship and ensuring that the side walls of the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory completely intersect the boundary; and

and cutting off the part of the bottom of the three-dimensional digital model of the accessory, which crosses the boundary, so as to obtain the three-dimensional digital model of the shell-shaped dental instrument with the accessory.

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