WO2018207081A1

WO2018207081A1 - Dental work supply chain platform and method

Info

Publication number: WO2018207081A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/053170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eitan SAPIR; Ilan SAPIR; Shlomo Kalman HILLEL
Original assignee: Dentflow Global Ltd.
Priority date: 2017-05-08
Filing date: 2018-05-08
Publication date: 2018-11-15

Abstract

Dental work supply chain platform comprising: a web server running a system application that communicates bi-directionally, over dedicated GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) with local user applications running on client computers, said client computers comprising: customer computers running a client application; CAD (Computer Aided Design) service providers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application; CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) service providers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application; and manufacturers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application.

Description

DENTAL WORK SUPPLY CHAIN PLATFORM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of dental work supply chain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority from and is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/502,805, filed 05/08/2017, this U.S. Provisional Patent Application incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND A dental prosthesis is an intraoral (inside the mouth) prosthesis used

to restore (reconstruct) intraoral defects such as missing teeth, missing parts of teeth, and missing soft or hard structures of the jaw and palate. Such prostheses are used to rehabilitate mastication (chewing), improve aesthetics, and aid speech. A dental prosthesis may be held in place by connecting to teeth or dental implants, by suction, or by being held passively by surrounding muscles. Like other types of prostheses, they can either be fixed permanently or removable; fixed prosthodontics and

removable dentures are made in many variations. Permanently fixed dental prostheses use dental adhesive or screws, to attach to teeth or dental implants. Removal prostheses may use friction against parallel hard surfaces and undercuts of adjacent teeth or dental implants, suction using the mucous retention (without or without aid from denture adhesives), and by exploiting the surrounding muscles and anatomical contours of the jaw to passively hold in place.

Where traditionally patients needing dental prostheses would first have a physical impression made, nowadays intraoral scanners have been introduced, which are designed for capturing digital impressions. Design and manufacturing of the dental prosthesis has also been digitized in recent years, with the aid of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software.

The evolving technology causes rapid changes and implementation methods which cause lack of standardization. In a rush to gain market share, the various players have created a flood of closed proprietary methods and limited communication platforms. This means dental players are struggling to work efficiently within the new fully digitized workflow.

The digital process of providing a dental prosthesis to a patient involves a supply chain having a number of separate steps, today performed by a single entity (a dental laboratory), as exemplified in Fig. 1. The process involves:

1. Digital Data Collection - which may be done by the dentist using, for example, an intra oral scanner, resulting in a digital image in one of a number of prevailing formats.

2. Designing - which requires a design expert who uses the digital data to design the dental restoration with CAD software.

3. Manufacturing Planning - which requires a CNC expert who uses the designed dental restoration file and by using CAM software, transforming it to an operational plan for a 3D/CNC machine.

4. Manufacturing - using 3D manufacturing techniques such as milling or 3D

printing to manufacture the dental prosthesis according to the design.

5. Delivery - Delivering the manufactured physical prosthesis to the patient.

These process steps create a supply chain that, with today's digital technologies, may be improved as suggested by the present invention.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a dental work supply chain platform comprising: a web server running a system application that communicates bi-directionally, over dedicated GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) with local user applications running on client computers, the client computers comprising: customer computers running a client application; CAD (Computer Aided Design) service providers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application; CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) service providers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application; and manufacturer's computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application.

The customer computers may be connected with at least one of a local desktop and intraoral scanner.

The dental work supply chain platform may further comprise imaging centers' computers configured to provide intraoral images.

The dental work supply chain platform may further comprise lab computers optionally connected to a 3D desktop scanner configured to scan physical impressions.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing dental work supply chain services, comprising: opening a new case file and filling a prescription; saving the new case data in a cases database; uploading one of intraoral digital images and designs and storing them in a case file; selecting potential service providers for the new case; compiling a work proposal including details of the required work and required turnaround time; sending the work proposal to the selected potential service providers via the system application; saving a credit line in a sum matching the highest price among the selected potential service providers; receiving responses to the work proposal from service providers; selecting a service provider for the new case from the service providers that have responded positively to the work proposal; charging the customer; sending relevant materials via the client application to the selected service provider's application; receiving approval from the selected service provider; receiving the requested work product from the service provider via one of the application and a courier; approving the received work product; and paying the service provider according to agreed upon price and payment terms.

Selecting potential service providers may comprise filtering according to parameters stored in a service provider's database. The parameters may be selected from the group consisting of: personal qualifications, work portfolio, general availability, price list, turnaround time, payment means, revisions allowed, work agreement and client and crowd rating.

Sending the work proposal to the selected potential service providers may comprise one of: sending the work proposal to all the selected potential service providers

simultaneously and sending the work proposal to selected potential service providers one by one according to priority.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a

fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the existing digital process of providing a dental prosthesis to a patient;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the trading network for dental work according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the data flow within the trading network of the present invention from the perspective of the dentist client application; and Fig. 4 shows an exemplary partial rule-based mapping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system." Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wire line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service

Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The present invention provides a novel trading network for dental workflow, to improve the efficiency and quality of dental prosthesis supply chain in a number of aspects:

- Human resources - assuring qualification, dependency and availability of the individual performing the task and in selecting the best cost-performance resources.

- Investment costs - (CAD and/or CAM software, maintenance, machines and

materials).

- Data Management - monitoring and controlling the entire supply chain process and archiving case data.

- Communication - providing a global language of communication between the various tasks and transferring data in common formats. The network of the present invention connects service providers with customers worldwide, along with a standardized methodology, safe and automatic payment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the trading network 100 for dental work according to the present invention, comprising a system server 1 10, hosted on the Internet. The system server 1 10 runs a system application 1 15 that communicates bi- directionally, over dedicated GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) with local user applications running on the various client computers.

An exemplary GUI may comprise any or all of the following:

Sign up screen - Preferred CAD software

- Type of morphology

- Approximal cut intersection

- Antagonist cut intersection

- Cut back Upload files screen

- Upper/lower jaw

- Upper/lower gingiva

- Upper/lower pre-op

- Upper/lower marker

- Vestibular

- CBCT (cone beam computed tomography)

- Patient pictures

Prescription screens

Project prescription screens are shown one by one while the files are uploaded. When all files have been uploaded the user is asked for confirmation, e.g., a visual validation.

- Case number - issued automatically

- Order ID (number/name) - Tooth numbers (cross or check box):

• Material - e.g. zircon, metal, temporary etc.

• Tooth shade (for specific materials)

• Indication - e.g. crown, cup, bar, individual abutment

· Screw retained (check box)

• Supplementary - individual abutment etc.

• Type of implant - for specific indications

- Occlusion intersection (3 levels)

- Type of morphology (e.g. smooth, detailed, specific)

- Contact point cut intersection (3 levels)

- Turnaround time

- Design approval (check box)

- Designer selection - automatic or manual

- Summary of project and total payment. Items mapping

Rule based mapping of materials/indications/products so that a certain choice results in the system suggesting only relevant further choices. Exemplary partial mapping is shown in Fig. 4.

Designer screen viewing Customer browses available designers and may save them in a favorites list.

Option to arrange designers by priority, for automatic designer selection.

- View designers list

- Sort by:

• Rank

· Total completed cases

• Design software

• Portfolio

• Turnaround time Designer selection

The system automatically filters designers who are available and can perform the specific project by the customer's desired turnaround time.

- Automatic selection by the system (best match)

- Selection from favorites

- Immediate availability of designers (suggestion list)

Customer dashboard screen

- Orders waiting for approval

- Orders in process

- Orders ready to download

- Old orders - archive

- Billing

Archive screen

- Project number

- Order ID

- Tooth numbers

- Material

- Indication

- Supplementary

- Comments icon:

• Date and time stamp

• User name

• Attachments (uploaded files) Order view/edit By clicking on an order, the prescription is displayed. If the designer has not approved the order: - Modify order

- Cancel order

Designer / CAM expert interface

Sign up: When signing up the designer has to fill the following: · Education/degree

• CAD / CAM software

• Modules (functionality) availability, e.g. Implant module, Bar module, Provisional module, implant planning and/or guided surgery module, Articulator module, Dentures module, Splint module, Ortho module, Partials module, smile design module etc.

• Turn Around Time

• Business hours (GMT)

• Daily capacity

• Portfolio (pictures/STL etc.)

· Language (for comments)

• Prices for each indication- price list

• Modification policy

Schedule management for designers

The system performs data mining based on historical data relating to designers in general and a specific designer. This enables the system to predict the designer's productivity and calculate the daily (or weekly) number of designs he can produce, taking into consideration the variety of products the specific designer is capable of producing.

1. Upon each entry to the system the designer will declare till what hour he is prepared to receive orders (or how long he intends to stay connected to the system).

2. The system will assess the number of designs the designer is capable of producing in this timeframe. 3. If the order is urgent, the system will check the theoretical remaining time of the designer for this job, taking into consideration other jobs he has to finish by the time he has allotted.

4. If the order is urgent and the designer is currently working on a previous urgent order, the system will check the theoretical remaining time of the designer for the previous job and the theoretical remaining time of the designer for the current job, and will approve the designer for the current job if he can deliver it within the timeframe defined for it (e.g. 1 hour). Otherwise, the system will direct the order to the next designer who fulfills all the conditions.

5. If the order is not urgent and the designer is currently working on a previous urgent order, the system will perform similar logical tests.

6. If the order is urgent and the designer is currently working on a previous nonurgent order, the designer will prioritize the urgent job and put on hold the nonurgent job.

7. If a designer is available and no orders specifying him are available, the system will allocate him jobs from customers who have asked for automatic service, i.e. automatic selection of providers by the system according to customer's predefined preferences/filters, according to the following logical tests:

- Number of units the designer is capable of producing in the time he has allotted.

- Price.

- Capability of performing the indication.

- Designer's grading in the system.

Designer orders list screen

- Project number

- Order status - done/in process/waiting

- Tooth numbers

- Material

- Indication

- Supplementary

- Comments icon Designer / CAM Expert dashboard screen

- New orders waiting to be performed

- Orders waiting for customer's approval (modification option)

- Archive - old orders Sorting orders option.

Customer browses available CAM experts and may save them in a favorites list.

According to embodiments of the invention, there is an option to arrange CAM experts by priority, for automatic selection.

- View CAM experts list

- Sort by:

• Rank

• Total completed cases

• CAM software

• Portfolio

· Turnaround time

• Machines post processors

• Material templates

• Finishing level

Manufacturer's interface At the time of subscribing to the system, the manufacturer provides the following parameters:

- Types of indication capable of being produced by his machines - indication by filling in a price (if no price is indicated it means that he is not able to produce the indication).

- Maximum capacity per indication - stated according to urgency level (the

manufacturer enters the daily quota allotted to the platform)

• Produced in the same day • Produced within 2 days

- Types of raw materials and brands

- Type of machine

- Geographic location

- Territory for deliveries

- Time of shipping

- Working hours

- Price list

- Delivery:

· Preferred delivery agent

• Time of delivery to destination

Scheduling management for producers

- The producer may augment the capacity (beyond the default capacity) for the same day (during working hours) at any stage.

- If an urgent request is sent, the system will check the available production

capacity of the producer. The system will limit sending new orders to the first half of the working day or to hours defined by the producer.

- When a producer reaches his daily capacity he will no longer be available for receiving orders for the same day, but may receive orders that are not urgent.

- The system will be able to predict production orders upon opening a design order by the customer.

- If a manufacturer is available and no orders specifying him are available, the system will allocate him jobs from customers who have asked for automatic service, according to the following logical tests:

- Number of units the manufacturer is capable of producing in the time he has allotted.

- Price.

- Capability of performing the indication.

- Manufacturer's grading in the system.

Manufacturer's operational screens: Manufacturer's dashboard screen

- New orders waiting to be performed

- Archive - old orders

Sorting orders option. Manufacturer's orders list screen

- Order number

- Customer name

- Type of work/raw materials

- Raw material brand

- Color/transparency

- Tooth numbers/number of units

- Target delivery date

Order screen

The order screen will include all the order details plus: - downloadable manufacturing files

- items/reconstructions

- Notes

- STL files viewable with a 3D STL Viewer

Imaging center interface The imaging centers produce CT and panoramic images that serve as input to the design process.

The imaging center uploads the images to the system and an ID is automatically produced for the patient, who will deliver it to the dentist/dental lab. Alternatively or additionally, the imaging center may connect the project to the dentist by looking the dentist up in the system. When the customer inputs project details into the system, he has to provide patient's ID and assignment to a specific clinic or dentist. The system will automatically assign the images/scans from the imaging center to the project.

Notification system Order status and comments sent by each user are automatically sent to customers and service provider by e-mail and/or SMS and/or mobile app.

Billing procedure

Available payment options, e.g. PayPal, Credit Card. Search component A search bar is displayed in all screens:

- By project number

- By order ID

Balance screen

- The ledger sum of all daily invoices MTD (Month to Date)

- Clicking on each invoice opens the transaction details

- Options to see reports/summaries per item

- Share report by e-mail

Resolution center

When a system's user asks for resolution of a dispute created during the process of a transaction, the resolution process starts by defining whether the ordering party is a service provider or receiver. The resolution system is mostly automatic for handling common dispute cases. If an unordinary dispute case is presented, the system will allow for free text (or speech) which will require intervention on the part of a system's customer service representative.

If the party asking for resolution is a service receiver: 1. He will be asked to state if he has not received the design/product, in which case:

- The system will refer him to a tracking number and to the delivery agent for

tracking the product.

- If tracking information is not available, the system will enable direct question

regarding the product's whereabouts to the service provider.

- If no satisfactory response is received, the ordering party may ask for

cancellation of the transaction and refund.

2. He will be asked to state if he has received a design/product that does not

comply with the order requirements, in which case:

- He will be referred to the service provider to ask for correction/rework.

- If this has not resolved the dispute, the system will ask the service provider to provide an explanation as to why he does not provide the required modification.

- If the customer service department is not satisfied with the service provider's response, he will be automatically receive a negative grading and a warning stating that he may no longer be able to provide services through the platform.

- If the service provider has provided acceptable responses, the ordering party will receive an explanation and a recommendation not to order future services from the same service provider.

3. He will be asked to state if he has not received a design/product in the required timeframe for which a premium may have been paid, in which case:

- The platform will grade the service provider negatively.

- The charging will be according to the service provider's lower tariff.

- The service provider will receive a warning stating that he may no longer be able to provide services through the platform. If the party asking for resolution is a service provider:

He will be asked to state whether he has not received payment or has received only partial payment. An internal checking will be conducted in the collection and payments department.

Data injection to 3^rd party software In order to save the need to manually fill in the data into each of the participating software modules (e.g. scanning software, design software), the system provides for a single data injection, either to one of the software modules or to the project folder, by automatically transferring the data between the various modules.

5

Synchronization with 3^rd party software

The data from the various projects handled by the system will be synchronized with 3^rd party software, such as software for queue management and patients

management (e.g., Dentrix), to save the need for double feeding and to enable automatically synchronized provision of the data.

The system may identify a new treatment program in the patients management software and suggest to use the program for new or existing projects.

System server 1 10 comprises:

- A cases database 1 16 storing medical history, medical documents, prescribed procedure, patient's preferences and more for each patient and each case.

- A CAD service providers' database 1 17 and a CAM service providers' database 1 18 storing personal qualifications, work portfolio, general availability, price list, turnaround time, payment means, work agreement, client and/or crowd rating and more for each associated CAD/CAM center. The providers' (CAD, CAM) price lists are based on a template generated by the system for each group of providers, detailing the various jobs.

- A manufacturers database 1 19 storing qualifications, work portfolio, general availability, price list, turnaround time, payment means, work agreement, client and/or crowd rating and more for each associated manufacturer. The providers' price lists are based on a template generated by the system for each group of providers, detailing the various jobs.

The system clients are: - Customer (practice) computers 120, running a practice client application 126 and optionally connected with a local intraoral scanner driver 125. A customer may be a dentist requiring services from service providers or a service provider requiring services.

- CAD Service Providers computers 130, running a client application which

communicates bi-directionally with the system application.

- CAM Service Providers computers 131 , running a client application which

communicates bi-directionally with the system application.

- Manufacturer computers 140, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with the system application.

- Optional imaging centers computers 150 providing intraoral images in lieu of the dentist's intraoral scanner. The imaging centers may provide X-ray/CT images including intraoral images and/or facial images produced by a face scanner (such as, for example, Face hunter by zircon zhan).

- Lab computers 135 optionally connected to a 3D desktop scanner 145 for

scanning the physical impression, in case intra-oral scanning is not available.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart 200 showing the data flow within the trading network of the present invention.

Step 201 - The customer opens a new case file and fills a prescription. The data is saved in the cases database 1 16.

The process continues according to the uploaded file(s). If the files are intraoral digital files and/or CBCT and/or 3D scans, in step 205 - Intraoral digital images and/or 3D scans and/or CBCT are uploaded, either from the practice's intraoral scanner 125 or from the imaging center 150, or from a 3D scanner at the practice or from the desktop scanner 145. The images are uploaded to the system application 1 15 and stored in the case file in cases database 1 16.

Step 210 - The customer now selects potential CAD service providers to perform the design work according to the digital image, compiles a work proposal including details of the required work and required turnaround time and sends the work proposal to the selected CAD service providers via the system application 1 15. The selection may involve taking into consideration (filtering according to) any or all of the parameters stored in the CAD service providers database 1 17, such as personal qualifications, work portfolio, general availability, price list, turnaround time, payment means, work agreement, client and/or crowd rating and more. The work proposal may be sent to all the selected providers simultaneously or one by one according to priority.

Step 212 - The system saves a credit line in a sum matching the highest price among the selected CAD service providers, to assure payment to any CAD service provider that will eventually perform the job. Step 215 - The customer selects a CAD service provider for the job from the CAD service providers that have responded positively to the work proposal. The selection may be made according to various criteria. According to embodiments of the present invention, the first to respond CAD service provider may be selected automatically.

Step 216 - Customer is charged by the system. Step 220 - The customer sends relevant materials, to the selected CAD service provider's application. The materials may include relevant digital image(s) and other pertinent data. If the designer does not approve the requested design or does not respond within a predefined time, the system may automatically transfers the order to the next CAD service provider from the selected list. Step 225 - The customer receives the requested design or a preview of the design from the CAD service provider via the application. If the customer does not approve the design, he may request modifications / corrections, possibly in compatibility with a rework policy agreed upon, until the design is approved (Step 230). According to embodiments of the invention, step 230 may be followed by step 21 1. Alternatively, if the manufacturer has CAM software capabilities step 230 may be followed by step 240.

Step 235 - The transaction is ended by paying the CAD service provider according to agreed upon price and payment terms. Automatic payment processing is integrated into the system. Back to step 201 , if the file to be uploaded is a design, in step 204 - a design is uploaded. The design is uploaded to the system application 1 15 and stored in the case file in cases database 1 16. The design may be uploaded by the customer or may be provided from step 230. If the manufacturer has CAM software capabilities, the process may continue from step 204 to step 240.

Alternatively, in step 21 1 - The customer now selects potential CAM service providers to perform the manufacturing planning according to the designed restoration, compiles a work proposal including details of the required work and required turnaround time and sends the work proposal to the selected CAM service providers via the system application 1 15. The selection may involve taking into consideration (filtering according to) any or all of the parameters stored in the CAM service providers database 1 18, such as personal qualifications, work portfolio, general availability, price list, turnaround time, payment means, work agreement, client and/or crowd rating and more. The work proposal may be sent to all the selected providers simultaneously or one by one according to priority.

Step 212 - The system saves a credit line in a sum matching the highest price among the selected CAM service providers, to assure payment to any CAM service provider that will eventually perform the job. Step 217 - The customer selects a CAM service provider for the job from the CAM service providers that have responded positively to the work proposal. The selection may be made according to various criteria. According to embodiments of the present invention, the first to respond CAM service provider may be selected automatically.

Step 216 - Customer is charged by the system. Step 221 - The customer sends relevant materials, to the selected CAM service provider's application. The materials may include relevant digital image(s) and other pertinent data and/or designed restorations. If the CAM expert does not approve the requested planning or does not respond within a predefined time, the system may automatically transfers the order to the next CAM service provider from the selected list.

Step 226 - The customer receives the NC file from the CAM service provider via the application. Step 236 - The transaction is ended by paying the CAM service provider according to agreed upon price and payment terms. Automatic payment processing is integrated into the system.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the received file (of step 226) may be manufactured internally or may be sent to a manufacturer. In steps 240 through 265 a similar process takes place between the customer and the Manufacturer.

The system may also enable communication between customer and CAD/CAM service providers and/or Manufacturers.

Additional advantages of the network of the present invention are: 1. Building a custom supply chain of each of the steps needed for the

manufacturing of a digital dental restoration, choosing which step to outsource and which service provider should perform each step. The solely service provider necessity days are over.

2. File format standardization - The system accepts digital desktop and/or intraoral images of a plurality of formats and may transform them to a single digital format.

3. Expertise - The system may divide a given job into a number of sub-jobs

requiring different skills and direct each sub-job to the best qualified expert.

4. Guaranteed payment - When the customer selects the potential manufacturer and/or CAD/CAM service provider, he already reserves a credit line according to the highest list price of the candidates. Then, upon selection of the service provider, he may adapt the credit line to the selected provider's price. This guarantees that the actual price will always be covered by the credit line. 5. The customer application provides a visual representation (Dashboard) for viewing various reports including status of works in process.

6. The system application provides a "chat" options for communicating between the customer and the various providers.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

1. Dental work supply chain platform comprising:

a web server running a system application that communicates bi-directionally, over dedicated GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) with local user applications running on client computers, said client computers comprising: customer computers running a client application;

CAD (Computer Aided Design) service providers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with said system application;

CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) service providers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with said system application; and manufacturers' computers, running a client application which communicates bi-directionally with said system application.

2. The dental work supply chain platform of claim 1 , wherein said customer

computers are connected with at least one of a local desktop and intraoral scanner.

3. The dental work supply chain platform of claim 1 , further comprising imaging centers' computers configured to provide at least one of intraoral images and CBCT images.

4. The dental work supply chain platform of claim 1 , further comprising lab

computers optionally connected to a 3D desktop scanner configured to scan physical impressions.

5. A method of providing dental work supply chain services, comprising: opening a new case file by a customer and filling a prescription; saving data of said new case in a cases database; uploading one of intraoral digital images and designs and storing them in a case file; selecting potential service providers for said new case; compiling a work proposal including details of the required work and required turnaround time; sending said work proposal to said selected potential service providers via a system application; saving a credit line in a sum matching the highest price among said selected potential service providers; receiving responses to said work proposal from service providers; selecting a service provider for said new case from said service providers that have responded positively to said work proposal; charging said customer; sending relevant materials to said selected service provider's application; receiving approval from said selected service provider; receiving a requested work product from said service provider via one of said application and a courier; approving said received work product; and paying said service provider according to agreed upon price and payment terms.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said service provider is one of a CAD (Computer Aided Design) service provider, a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) service provider and a manufacturer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting potential service providers comprises filtering according to parameters stored in a service providers database.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said parameters are selected from the group consisting of: personal qualifications, work portfolio, general availability, price list, turnaround time, payment means, work agreement and client and crowd rating.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein sending said work proposal to said selected potential service providers comprises one of: sending said work proposal to all the selected potential service providers simultaneously and sending said work proposal to selected potential service providers one by one according to priority.