FR3063629A3 - TOOTH EVALUATION SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

An evaluation tool is proposed for determining tooth surface properties, which includes an enlarged 3D skin of a tooth surface on a support material, wherein the 3D skin has a thickness of 50 to 1,000 micrometers.

Description

TOOTH EVALUATION SYSTEM Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an evaluation tool for evaluating the properties of the surface of the teeth, a method of using the evaluation tool to evaluate the properties of the surface of the teeth, and a method for producing the tool of the teeth. 'Evaluation.

Background and prior art

Methods for measuring surface properties are described in the following prior art.

US 2003/0234650 discloses a surface finish comparator for evaluating SPI surface finishes in a turbine vapor path. One embodiment includes a small particle impact comparator comprising a plurality of sample cells arranged side-by-side in the increasing order of roughness from 1190 micro-inches (4.68 μm) to 6950 micro-inches (27 μm). , 36 μm).

WO2014 / 170065 discloses an oral hygiene composition effective to impart improved surface properties to teeth, and an evaluation device packaged with the composition. The device comprising a graduated scale corresponding to a surface roughness spectrum.

A method for demonstrating dental treatment by producing an enlarged 3D model is described in WO2016 / 071182.

In spite of the prior art, there is still a need to develop improved methods and devices providing precise, though simple, means for assessing the condition of the teeth.

It has been found that the implementation of a 3D skin, having a thickness of 50 to 1000 micrometers, in a device for evaluating teeth, makes it possible to obtain a surprisingly advantageous device. For example, several representations of an individual's teeth may be included on a single 3D skin, for example before, during, and after treatment. In this way, it is possible to highlight any surface improvement, such as enamel repair. It also becomes possible to recommend a product adapted to the needs of the individual. This allows an accurate assessment of the surface of the teeth in several aspects, such as the level of damage, the type of damage and the deposition of material on the surface. The evaluation obtained is more extensive and complete than other known evaluations. Definition of the invention

A first aspect of the invention provides an evaluation tool for evaluating properties of the tooth surface, which comprises an enlarged 3D skin of the tooth surface on a support material, said 3D skin having a thickness of 50 at 1000 micrometers.

The surface of a tooth includes enamel and dentin. The properties of the teeth may include aspects of the surface of the teeth such as damage, erosion and pitting, shine, gloss and blockage of the tubules.

The method of the invention may optionally include the additional step of applying treatment or aggression of the teeth, and repeated steps of analysis.

Skins of a tooth in different states, for example before and after application of a composition, may be included on a single skin.

The device preferably further comprises a scale. The scale may indicate the level of one or more properties of the surface of a tooth, preferably properties related to damage or repair of a tooth, for example a rough condition due to erosion by food acids or blocking of dentin tubules due to a mineral deposit from a toothpaste. A comparison of the aspects shown on the skin with the scale can be performed in step (iii) of the method of determining the properties of the teeth.

The support material

The support material may be any suitable substrate, preferably selected from plastics, paper and paperboard. The support material is preferably flexible.

Preferably, a color is applied to the substrate to highlight areas of interest. Colors may vary depending on the height of the surface. This is useful for showing areas of interest such as the topography of the tooth surface, such as the depth of the holes and the degree of roughness due to erosive wear; also deposits on the surface. It is preferable that the color is added by taking a 2D image of the 3D skin, and using the 2D image for the application of the color.

3D skin

The 3D skin used in the present invention is different from a conventional rigid model. In the field of 3D rendering, we use a virtual model to create the skin. In the context of the present invention, the 3D skin and the backside form the final model of the tooth. The 3D skin is applied to a suitable backing surface, resulting in an end product that is far more flexible in terms of use than a fully printed model, and therefore has many more uses than typical 3D models of the prior art.

Unlike a final model, this 3D model (excluding any back) is thin and flexible, with a thickness of 50 to 1000 micrometers, preferably 75 to 750 micrometers, preferably 100 to 350 micrometers .

This gives a device with the real properties of the surface of a tooth (pitting, roughness, blockage of the tubules), which is not simulated or imitated.

This skin can be printed directly on a back, for example the side of a bottle or a package, for example to illustrate the effect of the product in the tube on the teeth.

A preferred 3D skin has a sticky back so that it can be removed from a carrier material by peeling, and adhered to a support surface.

The 3D skin is preferably printed on the backing material by digital printing with UV inks for coloring. The texture is preferably obtained by an accumulation of layers of varnish.

A suitable method for preparing the skin is as follows: Data, including X, Y and Z coordinates, are collected. - Data is then manipulated for skin production using CAD software. A suitable file format is * .STL. - The STL file is then manipulated according to the following steps so that the printing process is facilitated. - The file is converted to PDF, which is a graphical printable file. - The PDF is imported into a specific software of the printer, for example a RIP software. - The layers are accumulated as in an in-silicio mask, based on the Z data oriented to the X, Y coordinates. - From this mask, a "flat" color background is printed (the 2D image of the model). - On this colored background, a varnish is printed in layers - each layer being cured by a U.V light source.

The layers are accumulated until the maximum height is reached, and a 3D model is now represented. The image

The data used in skin generation is captured using a 3D optical profiler, such as a Sensofar S Neox device, or a laser profilometer.

The topographic surface of the tooth is converted to a format adapted to a 3D printer, and preferably it is exported in a digital file in the form of spatial coordinates (X, Y, Z) of each point that describes the topographic surface (3D ). This is preferably done by means of a profilometer. An example of a suitable profilometer is the Sensofar S Neox profilometer which can produce a 3D skin of the surface to be studied. The profilometer software, eg sensoSCAN v5, can export a ".dat" file which is a list of all the X, Y, Z coordinates of each point.

Preferably, the enlarged 3D skin for use in the skin has a magnification of 100 to 50,000, preferably 10,000 times.

It is preferred that the conversion of the image forming data iv) include a magnification processing. Magnification is preferably achieved by changing the definition or units and / or resizing the coordinate axis, which produces a new digital file with the new spatial coordinates. A preferred way of magnifying data points is by using Matlab. In this preferred method, the ".dat" file is imported into Matlab as a matrix, and a Matlab script set is used to manipulate the matrix and change the definition / scale. It is particularly preferred that the matrix be exported to a new ASCII file ".XYZ" in the form of a list of all the X, Y, Z coordinates of each point.

The image forming data is converted to an image suitable for a 3D printer. Preferably, the file is imported into a 3D CAD software, and the 3D surface is applied to a face of a parallelogram to obtain a 3D object. The resulting 3D image is exported to a digital file compatible with the 3D printing device software. The XYZ file is preferably imported into a conversion package, for example the "Rhino" package, which can convert it into a 3D file and export it as a .STL file. The 3D image is printed to form a skin. This can be achieved by using a 3D modem printer, such as a Flatbed proofing press available from The Logan Press. Primer inks with UV varnishes are commercially available and can be used with appropriate ink jet printers.

In a preferred embodiment, the images are converted to 3D image files (.stl), and 2D optical images (.png) of the 3D images are also captured. 2D and 3D images are combined to produce a textured image on paper, where 3D data is used to create the texture above the printed image file. In embodiments that highlight tubule blocking images, the negative image of the 3D file is used, so that the main feature (the dark holes where the tubules are) is hollow in an area. raised where the solid dentine is. For most other examples, any features are printed as a texture in the image. The resulting image as described in the above description may be printed on a toothpaste tube, cardboard or pamphlet (card or plastic), etc.

3D skin analysis

The properties that can be observed in 3D skin are external topographic aspects of a tooth's surface, such as damage, erosion, fissures, tubule blockage, and pitting. The extent to which these are present during the initial imaging step (i) depends on the age and condition of the teeth at the beginning of the process.

Different oral hygiene compositions can affect the surface of the teeth.

The effects perceptible by a consumer are all changes, perceived by the consumer, resulting from the treatment with the oral hygiene composition. They can be perceived by properties such as a rough sensation, smooth texture, and friction, by passing a finger over the surface of a 3D skin produced before and after treatment.

It is possible to recommend a suitable product based on the needs of an individual, who targets the properties of the tooth.

The method of the invention can be used in an educational tool, in communication with the press, the media or the business community, at a point of sale, in professional environments such as dentists, and in commercial equipment, promotional material and promotional material. The Assessment Tool The assessment tool can be in the form of a package, a promotional or educational brochure, or an adhesive backing, preferably a sticky label, a card, a brochure or a tube . For example, the evaluation tool may be a package comprising the product of the first aspect on an outer surface of the package, or it may be a brochure bearing the product of the second aspect of the invention under the form of a sticky label. The evaluation tool preferably includes written instructions and / or comparative scales for the analysis. It may further include a method of characterizing teeth and / or a recommendation of products. Preferred features are comparative scales, for example linking the erosion roughness on 3D skin to a level of erosional damage, or linking tubule blockage on 3D skin to reduced levels of tooth hypersensitivity, as well as correlations with adapted products.

In a preferred embodiment, the evaluation tool is a booklet, preferably including folding leaflets.

Such a pamphlet gives teeth life in the context of treatment, and allows an individual to analyze their own teeth and see how they are affected by the factors that are most relevant to them. The brochure includes a 3D skin that preferably shows, for example, dentin / damaged enamel, healthy dentin / enamel and treated enamel / dentine, on the same skin. The skin may, alternatively or alternatively, show the deposition of materials from products (for example to demonstrate blockage of the tubules) and / or the effects of environmental factors such as food acids.

It is possible to illustrate exactly how a treatment or aggression affects the surface of a tooth from a visual and tactile perspective - the skin allows the user to see and feel a true representation of the teeth.

figures

Figure 1 is a 2D perspective view of a device of the invention comprising a 3D skin (1) with a printed tooth surface (2). A is a native enamel representation, B is a polished enamel representation, C is an eroded enamel representation, and D is a repaired enamel representation.

Figure 2 is a perspective 2D view of a device comprising a 3D skin. A shows a damaged dentin and S shows a dentin that has been treated.

Claims (7)

An assessment tool for assessing the surface properties of a tooth, which includes an enlarged 3D skin of a tooth surface on a support material, wherein the 3D skin has a thickness of 50 to 1000 micrometers. An evaluation tool according to claim 1, wherein the support material has a 2D image of the 3D skin superimposed thereon. An evaluation tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, which further comprises a scale. An evaluation tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support material is flexible. An evaluation tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 3D skin has a tacky surface. An evaluation tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tooth surface to be evaluated is enamel. 7. Evaluation tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dental surface is dentin.