Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for occlusion estimation in dental prosthesis design. These include determining a first contact point between antagonist teeth, then simulating motion in order to determine additional contact points. Various of the determined contact points may not be used in the simulated motion, based on the simulated physics. When one or more predetermined stopping criteria have been met, then the contact points may be used to define the relative occlusal positions of antagonists. In some embodiments, sets of teeth in a bridge or crown, e.g., may be simulated as moving separately and a new state for each set of teeth may be determined.

Abstract: An overdenture bar includes a U-shaped support beam configured to being coupled to a plurality of dental implants and extending generally above the mucus membrane of the gums. The U-shaped support beam has an anterior region and a pair of posterior extensions. At least one portion of the U-shaped support beam includes a plurality of retention elements extending generally normal to an outer surface of the U-shaped support beam in a plurality of directions. A method for producing a dental bar model on a CAD/CAM program to be fitted on a patient's upper or lower gingival surface includes the steps of selecting a longitudinal portion of the bar, adding protrusions to an upper portion of the bar and/or positioning a buccal finish line and a lingual finish between two boundary lines. The boundary lines illustrate the highest and lowest position of the finish lines.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental prosthetics manipulation, selection, and planning. Embodiments include an overlapped, or semi-realistic 3D rendering, a localized abstraction of the dental plan, and/or a globalized abstraction of the dental plan. Various selection, manipulation, and planning functions are available for the displays. A dentist or other operator can use the various portions of the display to interact with, manipulate, and plan a dental prosthetic. In some embodiments, tools are also provided, such as a full crown manipulation.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental data planning. In various embodiments, an operator of the system can design a dental data plan, have it checked, and see various aspects of the plan on the display. The plan may be designed in the abstract and that abstract plan can be checked for compliance with material and product constraints. Also from that abstract plan, a list of necessary scanning tasks may be produced and displayed. In some embodiments, plans for multiple patients can be designed and the scanning for those patients may commence before all of the patients are completed.

Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for occlusion estimation in dental prosthesis design. These include determining a first contact point between antagonist teeth, then simulating motion in order to determine additional contact points. Various of the determined contact points may not be used in the simulated motion, based on the simulated physics. When one or more predetermined stopping criteria have been met, then the contact points may be used to define the relative occlusal positions of antagonists. In some embodiments, sets of teeth in a bridge or crown, e.g., may be simulated as moving separately and a new state for each set of teeth may be determined.

Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for occlusion estimation in dental prosthesis design. These include determining a first contact point between antagonist teeth, then simulating motion in order to determine additional contact points. Various of the determined contact points may not be used in the simulated motion, based on the simulated physics. When one or more predetermined stopping criteria have been met, then the contact points may be used to define the relative occlusal positions of antagonists. In some embodiments, sets of teeth in a bridge or crown, e.g., may be simulated as moving separately and a new state for each set of teeth may be determined.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental prosthesis connector design. Embodiments include providing a computer-based interface for manipulating a connector that connects a first dental restoration component and a second dental restoration component in a dental prosthesis; providing, via a cross-sectional representation of the connector, an acceptability design constraint for the connector, such as whether the connector meets production constraints and/or encompasses the intersection between neighboring teeth; modifying the connector based on operator input; determining whether the modified connector is acceptable with respect to the acceptability design constraint; and providing an acceptability indication for the modified connector, wherein said the acceptability indication is determined based at least in part on whether the modified connector is acceptable with respect to the acceptability design constraint.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable storage media for library selection in dental prosthesis design. Embodiments include presenting two or more dental morphology libraries for use in a dental plan and receiving a selection of one or more tooth morphologies from one of the presented dental morphology libraries. The selected tooth morphologies can then be placed in the dental plan at particular tooth positions. An operator can also replace all tooth morphologies in a dental plan with those of a particular library or “mix and match” tooth morphologies from multiple libraries in a dental plan.

Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for adjusting dental prostheses based on soft tissue. These include allowing an operator to define the surface of a dental prosthesis, such as an abutment, that is proximal to the patient's gum relative to a 3D scan of the patient's gums. The operator can define the offset of that surface as well as the limits of that surface.

Abstract: An overdenture bar includes a U-shaped support beam configured to being coupled to a plurality of dental implants and extending generally above the mucus membrane of the gums. The U-shaped support beam has an anterior region and a pair of posterior extensions. At least one portion of the U-shaped support beam includes a plurality of retention elements extending generally normal to an outer surface of the U-shaped support beam in a plurality of directions. A method for producing a dental bar model on a CAD/CAM program to be fitted on a patient's upper or lower gingival surface includes the steps of selecting a longitudinal portion of the bar, adding protrusions to an upper portion of the bar and/or positioning a buccal finish line and a lingual finish between two boundary lines. The boundary lines illustrate the highest and lowest position of the finish lines.

Abstract: Methods systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for crown or prosthesis manipulation in dental prosthesis design include presenting a 3D model of a multi-tooth prosthesis relative to an area to be reconstructed. An operator may manipulate one or more prosthetic teeth in that 3D model in order to alter the overall shape of the prosthesis. The techniques may also include the determination of occlusion with respect to antagonist teeth—of the entire 3D model of the prosthesis and/or of individual 3D models of prosthetic teeth in the model. The position or shape of the 3D model of the prosthesis may be modified based on the occlusion.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods and devices for designing dental components, such as physical models of a patient's anatomy, crowns and bridges. An operator of a prosthetic designing system can receive information, such as from a scanner, which provides information on the topology of the patient's dentition. The operator can use this information to design a custom prosthetic to fit the patient. Part of the designing process involves using a finish line defined for a preparation as a segmentation line for a physical die corresponding to the preparation, and using a path of draw line as an insertion axis line for a dental prosthetic.

Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for occlusion estimation in dental prosthesis design. These include determining a first contact point between antagonist teeth, then simulating motion in order to determine additional contact points. Various of the determined contact points may not be used in the simulated motion, based on the simulated physics. When one or more predetermined stopping criteria have been met, then the contact points may be used to define the relative occlusal positions of antagonists. In some embodiments, sets of teeth in a bridge or crown, e.g., may be simulated as moving separately and a new state for each set of teeth may be determined.

Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for adjusting dental prostheses based on soft tissue. These include allowing an operator to define the surface of a dental prosthesis, such as an abutment, that is proximal to the patient's gum relative to a 3D scan of the patient's gums. The operator can define the offset of that surface as well as the limits of that surface.

Abstract: Herein are provided methods, systems, computer-readable media, techniques and processes for crown or prosthesis manipulation in dental prosthesis design. These include presenting a 3D model of a multi-tooth prosthesis relative to an area to be reconstructed. An operator may manipulate one or more prosthetic teeth in that 3D model in order to alter the overall shape of the prosthesis. In various embodiments, the techniques may also include the determination of occlusion with respect to antagonist teeth—of the entire 3D model of the prosthesis and/or of individual 3D models of prosthetic teeth in the model. The position or shape of the 3D model of the prosthesis may be modified based on the occlusion.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable storage media for library selection in dental prosthesis design. Embodiments include presenting two or more dental morphology libraries for use in a dental plan and receiving a selection of one or more tooth morphologies from one of the presented dental morphology libraries. The selected tooth morphologies can then be placed in the dental plan at particular tooth positions. An operator can also replace all tooth morphologies in a dental plan with those of a particular library or “mix and match” tooth morphologies from multiple libraries in a dental plan.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental prosthesis connector design. Embodiments include providing a computer-based interface for manipulating a connector that connects a first dental restoration component and a second dental restoration component in a dental prosthesis; providing, via a cross-sectional representation of the connector, an acceptability design constraint for the connector, such as whether the connector meets production constraints and/or encompasses the intersection between neighboring teeth; modifying the connector based on operator input; determining whether the modified connector is acceptable with respect to the acceptability design constraint; and providing an acceptability indication for the modified connector, wherein said acceptability indication is determined based at least in part on whether the modified connector is acceptable with respect to the acceptability design constraint.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental data planning. In various embodiments, an operator of the system can design a dental data plan, have it checked, and see various aspects of the plan on the display. The plan may be designed in the abstract and that abstract plan can be checked for compliance with material and product constraints. Also from that abstract plan, a list of necessary scanning tasks may be produced and displayed. In some embodiments, plans for multiple patients can be designed and the scanning for those patients may commence before all of the patients are completed.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental prosthetics manipulation, selection, and planning. Embodiments include an overlapped, or semi-realistic 3D rendering, a localized abstraction of the dental plan, and/or a globalized abstraction of the dental plan. Various selection, manipulation, and planning functions are available for the displays. A dentist or other operator can use the various portions of the display to interact with, manipulate, and plan a dental prosthetic. In some embodiments, tools are also provided, such as a full crown manipulation.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods and devices for designing dental components, such as physical models of a patient's anatomy, crowns and bridges. An operator of a prosthetic designing system can receive information, such as from a scanner, which provides information on the topology of the patient's dentition. The operator can use this information to design a custom prosthetic to fit the patient. Part of the designing process involves using a finish line defined for a preparation as a segmentation line for a physical die corresponding to the preparation, and using a path of draw line as an insertion axis line for a dental prosthetic.