Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A method of aligning two 3D digital representations of at least a part of each of the upper and lower jaw of a patient, the method including segmenting the 3D digital representations to determine the shape and position of each of the patient's teeth in each of the 3D digital representations; and using a set of known anatomical concepts to constrain the fit of the two 3D digital representations to get a preliminary fit.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A method of designing a virtual 3D model of a dental restoration for a target site of a patient's set of teeth, the method including: obtaining a digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, the digital 3D representation including a section corresponding to the target site; determining an insertion path for the dental restoration to the target site; and designing the virtual 3D model of the dental restoration based on the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, where the designing includes generating an outer surface of the virtual 3D model, where the determined insertion path and the outer surface of the designed virtual 3D model provide that a dental restoration manufactured from the designed virtual 3D model can be moved along the insertion path to the target site.

Abstract: A method for digitally designing a modified dental setup up on a digital 3D dental model representing at least a part of the jaws of a patient includes the steps of obtaining a pre-treatment digital 2D image of at least a part of the patient's teeth, obtaining a digital 3D representation of the at least a part of the patient's set of teeth, obtaining a proposed digital 2D image of a desired dental setup based on the pre-treatment digital 2D image, wherein at least one digital tooth modification has been provided, and transferring the at least one digital tooth modification from the proposed digital 2D image to the digital 3D representation. This provides a method where the practitioner with relative simple means can present the patient with a visualization of an expected outcome of a dental treatment.

Abstract: A method of designing a virtual 3D model of a dental restoration for a target site of a patient's set of teeth, the method including-obtaining a digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, the digital 3D representation comprising a section corresponding to the target site; determining an insertion path for the dental restoration to the target site; and designing the virtual 3D model of the dental restoration based on the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, where the designing includes generating an outer surface of the virtual 3D model, where the determined insertion path and the outer surface of the designed virtual 3D model provide that a dental restoration manufactured from the designed virtual 3D model can be moved along the insertion path to the target site.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A method for digitally designing a denture for a patient, where the denture includes a plurality of denture teeth, where designing the denture includes transforming denture teeth of the denture, wherein the method includes obtaining a 3D scan of the upper jaw and lower jaw of the patient; obtaining a digital 3D arrangement of the denture teeth, where the denture teeth are pre-set in occlusion; digitally arranging the 3D scan of the upper jaw and lower jaw relative to the 3D arrangement of the denture teeth; digitally grouping the denture teeth in four groups, the four groups includes an upper anterior group, a lower anterior group, a left posterior group, and a right posterior group; and digitally arranging the upper anterior group first, the left and right posterior groups second and the lower anterior group third.

Abstract: A method for digitally designing a denture for a patient, where the denture includes a plurality of denture teeth, where designing the denture includes transforming the denture, and where the denture teeth are grouped in at least two blocks where each block includes at least two denture teeth. The method includes obtaining a 3D scan of the upper jaw and lower jaw of the patient; obtaining a digital 3D arrangement of the denture teeth, where the denture teeth are pre-set in occlusion; digitally arranging the 3D scan of the upper jaw and lower jaw relative to the 3D arrangement of the denture teeth; and digitally transforming at least one denture tooth based on input from a user; where at least one design rule is enforced that affect one or more, but not all of the blocks, when the at least one denture tooth is transformed.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A method for placing and using design guides in a virtual environment for use in dental treatment includes steps of obtaining a 3D representation of a dental setup a patient, obtaining a 2D image of at least a part of the face of the patient, aligning the 2D image and the 3D representation, generating at least one design guide based on facial features in the 2D image, and applying the at least one design guide to the 3D representation.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A method for validating a preparation of at least one tooth in a prepared set of teeth for determining whether the prepared tooth is capable of accepting a dental restoration includes obtaining a virtual dental preparation guide configured for validating the preparation of the at least one tooth; obtaining a digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth; visualizing the virtual dental preparation guide together with the digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth; and validating from the visualization of the virtual dental preparation guide together with the digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth whether the prepared at least one tooth is shaped such that it can accept the dental restoration.

Abstract: A method of virtually designing a customized healing abutment and a drill guide for a patient, where the method includes: obtaining a CT scan including at least part of the patient's jaw bone; virtually placing at least one implant relative to the jaw bone of the CT scan, such that a planned implant placement is defined; virtually designing: a drill guide for guiding the surgical drilling of a bore for the implant into the patient's jaw bone at the planned implant placement; and a customized healing abutment configured for shaping the soft tissue according to a target profile when arranged in the implant; where the design of the drill guide and of the customized healing abutment is at least partly based on the CT scan and on the planned implant placement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for compensating for motion blur when performing a 3D scanning of at least a part of an object by means of a 3D scanner, where the motion blur occurs because the scanner and the object are moved relative to each other while the scanning is performed, and where the motion blur compensation comprises: —determining whether there is a relative motion between the scanner and the object during the acquisition of the sequence of focus plane images; —if a relative motion is determined, performing a motion compensation based on the determined motion; and —generating a 3D surface from the sequence of focus plane images.

Abstract: A method of digitally designing a dental component for a patient, wherein the method includes: obtaining a 3D representation of the patient's upper jaw; obtaining a 3D representation of the patient's lower jaw; obtaining at least a first 3D representation of a first bite configuration of the patient's jaws in a first occlusion and a second 3D representation of a second bite configuration of the patient's jaws in a second occlusion different from the first occlusion; digitally determining a occlusal contact movement of the patient's jaws relative to each other based on the at least first 3D representation, the second 3D representation and contact between the patient's upper jaw and lower jaw; and digitally designing the dental component based on the occlusal contact movement of the patient's jaw relative to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and digital tools for deriving tooth condition information for a patient's teeth, for populating a digital dental chart with derived tooth condition information, and for generating an electronic data record containing such information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of generating and modifying a virtual model of a set of teeth, where the method provides that a restoration can be inserted into a physical model of the set of teeth manufactured from the virtual model of the set of teeth. A method of and a system for generating a virtual model of a set of teeth for manufacturing a physical model of the set of teeth, and to a physical model of a set of teeth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of designing a number of dental restorations for a patient, wherein the method includes: selecting a composed set of teeth including a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other forming a high aesthetic composition; applying the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth; optionally modifying one or more parameters of one or more of the teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth.