Abstract: An intraoral scanning system comprises an intraoral scanner and a computing device. The intraoral scanner is to configured to generate intraoral scan data of a bite of a patient. The computing device is configured to receive the intraoral scan data of the bite of the patient during scanning of the bite of the patient, wherein each datum of the intraoral scan data shows a portion of a lower dental arch and a portion of an upper dental arch of the patient. The computing device determines a difference in a relative position of the lower dental arch to the upper dental arch between at least a first datum of the intraoral scan data and a second datum of the intraoral scan data and performs a remedial action responsive to determining that the difference in the relative position of the lower dental arch to the upper dental arch exceeds a difference threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses (including devices and systems, such as intraoral scanners and software) for analyzing images of a subject's teeth. In some examples these methods may include examining the same teeth or tooth regions across different times and/or different imaging modalities, including but not limited to visible light, infrared, florescent, etc. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a single, master, control for automatically or semi-automatically simultaneously adjusting multiple imaging parameters across multiple images of a region taken with different imaging modalities and/or at different times.

Abstract: A method includes receiving intraoral scan data generated by an intraoral scanner, the intraoral scan data comprising one or more images of a reflective intraoral object generated during projection of light onto the reflective intraoral object by a light projector of the intraoral scanner. The method further includes identifying a virtual image of the light projector in the one or more images caused by reflection of the light off of the reflective intraoral object. The method further includes determining at least one of a position or an angle of a surface of the reflective intraoral object based at least in part on the virtual image of the light projector identified in the one or more images.

Abstract: A system comprises an intraoral scanner and a computing device. The computing device is configured to: receive intraoral scan data of at least a first portion of a dental site; perform object recognition on the intraoral scan data to determine an identity of a tool in the intraoral scan data; use the identity of the tool to determine a known shape of the tool; generate a three-dimensional (3D) surface of the dental site based on the received intraoral scan data; and supplement the 3D surface of the dental site with additional surface data of a second portion of the dental site that is hidden from direct viewing by the intraoral scanner, wherein the additional surface data is based at least in part on the known shape of the tool.

Abstract: A method of intraoral scanning uses patterned infrared light. The method includes projecting patterned infrared light onto a tooth, and generating one or more images of the patterned infrared light projected onto the tooth. The method further includes determining one or more internal properties of the tooth based on the one or more images. An intraoral scanning system is configured to perform the method of intraoral scanning.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral scanning comprises an elongate wand comprising a probe at a distal end of the elongate wand. The apparatus further comprises one or more structured light projectors disposed within the probe, each structured light projector comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a light source disposed within the housing and comprising: a semiconductor laser die; and a beam shaping optical element; and (c) a pattern generating optical element. A distance D between an emission point of the semiconductor laser die and an input face of the beam shaping optical element is 50-250 microns. Each structured light projector is configured to project a pattern of light onto an intraoral surface when the light source of the structured light projector is activated to emit light through the pattern generating optical element of the structured light projector.

Abstract: An intraoral scanner includes one or more structured light projectors, a camera, and control circuitry. The structured light projector(s) are to project a pattern of light onto an intraoral 3D surface. The camera comprises a focusing lens configured to focus at a plurality of different focal depths, each associated with a distinct optical distortion. The camera captures of at least a portion of the pattern of light projected onto the intraoral 3D surface at one or more of the different focal depths. The control circuitry is to change a focus position of the focusing lens to cause the camera to capture the images of the intraoral three-dimensional surface at the one or more different focal depths, wherein the change in the focus position causes a change in optical distortion for the camera and a corresponding change in a calibration of the camera associated with the change in the optical distortion.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that use 2D images and intraoral scans to generate and/or augment 3D models of dental site. In one example a method includes receiving a plurality of intraoral scans of a dental site generated by an intraoral scanner and a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of the dental site generated by the intraoral scanner, generating a three-dimensional (3D) surface of the dental site from the plurality of intraoral scans, determining a correspondence between points on the 3D surface and points in one or more 2D images of the plurality of 2D images, and performing one or more operations using the correspondence between the points on the 3D surface and the points on the one or more 2D images.

Abstract: An intraoral scanner includes one or more structured light projectors configured to project structured light comprising a light pattern, one or more non-structured light projectors configured to project non-structured light, and one or more cameras configured to capture intraoral scan data comprising one or more images of a dental object illuminated by at least one of the one or more structured light projectors or the one or more non-structured light projectors. The intraoral scanner or a computing device connected to the intraoral scanner is configured to estimate an amount of external illumination based on a) a known first intensity at which the one or more structured or non-structured light projectors projected light and b) a captured intensity in the one or images of the dental object for one or more color channels, and is further configured to perform an action based on the estimated amount of external illumination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses (including devices and systems, such as intraoral scanners and software) for analyzing images of a subject's teeth. In some examples these methods may include examining the same teeth or tooth regions across different times and/or different imaging modalities, including but not limited to visible light, infrared, florescent, etc. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a single, master, control for automatically or semi-automatically simultaneously adjusting multiple imaging parameters across multiple images of a region taken with different imaging modalities and/or at different times.

Abstract: Methods and systems for intraoral scanning and generation of 3D surfaces based on intraoral scans are described. In one example a system includes an intraoral scanner and a computing device operatively coupled to the intraoral scanner. The computing device receives an indication that a tool that provides supplemental surface data will be used during intraoral scanning. The computing device implements a supplemental surface data scanning mode in which a three-dimensional (3D) surface of a dental site that is generated from intraoral scan data is supplemented with additional surface data determined based at least in part on properties of the tool, wherein the additional surface data is for a first portion of the 3D surface that is hidden from direct viewing by the intraoral scanner during intraoral scanning.

Abstract: A system comprises a scanner and a computing device. The scanner comprises structured light projectors configured to project first structured light at a first time and second structured light at a second time, one or more non-structured light projectors to project non-structured light at the second time, and one or more cameras to capture first image data of the first structured light and second image data of the second structured light and the non-structured light. The computing device is configured to generate a 3D surface based on the first image data, separate a structured light portion of the second image data from a non-structured light portion of the second image data, determine a position and orientation of the non-structured light portion relative to the 3D surface based on the structured light portion, and augment the 3D surface using the non-structured light portion of the second image data.

Abstract: A system comprises an intraoral scanner comprising one or more cameras that define a field of view (FOV) of the intraoral scanner, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to: process intraoral scans to generate a three-dimensional (3D) surface of a dental site during an intraoral scanning session; output a representation of the 3D surface to a display; determine a current position and orientation of the FOV of the intraoral scanner relative to the 3D surface; output a representation of the FOV of the intraoral scanner at the current position and orientation relative to the 3D surface to the display; determine suggested next positions and orientations of the FOV of the intraoral scanner relative to the 3D surface; and output the suggested next positions and orientations of the FOV of the intraoral scanner relative to the 3D surface to the display.

Abstract: An apparatus (system, device, method, and the like) is disclosed for refining a three-dimensional (3D) model, particularly 3D models of a subject’s dentition. An initial 3D model is received or generated along with a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images corresponding to the 3D model. The 3D model is refined using edge boundaries of a space around or between two or more objects of the 3D model identified from the 2D images.

Abstract: Systems for modeling a digital articulator may include a processor in electronic communication with an extraoral imaging device and an intraoral imaging device and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor capture 3D data of the patient's face in with the extraoral imaging device, capture a 3D model of the patient's dentition, align the 3D model of the patient's dentition with 3D data of the patient's face, generate an estimate of the temporomandibular joint characteristics based on the 3D model of the patient's face, and derive digital articular settings for a digital articular based on the 3D model of the patient's dentition with the 3D data of the patient's face and the estimate of the temporomandibular joint characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for taking, using and displaying three-dimensional (3D) volumetric models of a patient's dental arch. A 3D volumetric model may include surface (e.g., color) information as well as information on internal structure, such as near-infrared (near-IR) transparency values for internal structures including enamel and dentin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring scanning accuracy are provided. In some embodiments, a method for monitoring accuracy of an intraoral scanner includes receiving results of at least one intraoral scanning session. The at least one intraoral scanning session can involve obtaining scan data of an intraoral structure from a scanner and combining the scan data to generate a 3D digital representation of the intraoral structure. The method can include evaluating scanning accuracy of the scanner based on the results of the at least one intraoral scanning session, and outputting an indication of the scanning accuracy on a display.

Abstract: An apparatus (system, device, method, and the like) is disclosed for refining a three-dimensional (3D) model, particularly 3D models of a subject's dentition. An initial 3D model is received or generated along with a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images corresponding to the 3D model. The 3D model is refined using edge boundaries of a space around or between two or more objects of the 3D model identified from the 2D images.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining a first 3D model of an upper jaw of a patient using an intraoral scanner and obtaining a second 3D model of the lower jaw of the patient using the intraoral scanner. The method may also include capturing a series of 2D images of the upper and lower jaws of the patient as the patient is moves the upper jaw and lower jaw in dynamic occlusion and processing the captured series of 2D images to identify features associated with the upper jaw of the patient and the lower jaw of the patient. For each 2D image in the captured series of 2D images, the method may include identifying a relative position of the first 3D model and the second 3D model based on alignment of features in the first 3D model and second 3D model with the features identified in the 2D image to generate a series of relative positions of the first 3D model and the second 3D model.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to techniques for real-time and post-scan visualization of intraoral scan data, which may include 3D images, 3D scans, 3D surfaces and/or 3D models. In one embodiment, an intraoral scanning system comprises a plurality of image sensors to periodically generate a set of intraoral two-dimensional (2D) images, wherein for each set of intraoral 2D images each image sensor of the plurality of image sensors is to generate an intraoral 2D image, and wherein relative positions and orientations of the plurality of image sensors are known. The intraoral scanning system further comprises a computing device, wherein the computing device is to perform the following for each set of intraoral 2D images: generate a combined intraoral image based on merging the set of intraoral 2D images together during scanning; and output the combined intraoral image to a display.