Abstract: A dental scanning system comprises an intraoral scanner and one or more processors. The intraoral scanner comprises one or more light projectors configured to project a pattern (comprising a plurality of pattern features) on a surface of a dental object, and two or more cameras configured to acquire one or more sets of images, wherein each set of images comprises at least one image from each camera, and wherein each image includes at least a portion of the projected pattern. The processors are configured to determine one or more image features within each set of images, solve a correspondence problem within each set of images such that points in 3D space are determined based on the image features, wherein said points form a solution to the correspondence problem, and wherein the correspondence problem is solved for groups of pattern features, and generate a digital 3D representation of the dental object using the solution to the correspondence problem.

Abstract: An intraoral scanning system comprises and intraoral scanner and a processor. The intraoral scanner comprises one or more cameras and one or more structured light projectors, the intraoral scanner to generate a series of images using the one or more cameras, each image including at least a portion of a pattern projected by the one or more structured light projectors onto an intraoral three-dimensional surface. The processor runs a correspondence algorithm to compute respective three-dimensional positions of a plurality of features of the pattern on the intraoral three-dimensional surface, as captured in the series of images. The processor identifies the computed three-dimensional position of a detected feature of the pattern as corresponding to a particular projector ray r, in at least a subset of the series of images. The processor tracks the particular projector ray r across one or more additional images of the series of images.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral scanning includes an elongate handheld wand that has a probe. One or more light projectors and two or more cameras are disposed within the probe. The light projectors each has a pattern generating optical element, which may use diffraction or refraction to form a light pattern. Each camera may be configured to focus between 1 mm and 30 mm from a lens that is farthest from the camera sensor. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral scanning comprises an elongate handheld wand comprising a probe at a distal end, one or more light projectors, and two or more cameras. Each light projector comprises at least one light source configured to generate light and a pattern generating optical element configured to generate a pattern of light when the light is transmitted through the pattern generating optical element. Each camera comprises a camera sensor and one or more lenses and is configured to capture a plurality of images that depict at least a portion of the projected pattern of light on an intraoral surface, wherein each camera is configured to focus at an object focal plane that is located between about 1 mm and about 30 mm from a lens of the one or more lenses that is farthest from the camera sensor.

Abstract: A mobile device comprises a display, an image capture device that generates image data of a face of a viewer of the display, and a processing device. The processing device receives the image data and sends the image data to a computing device. The computing device processes the image data to identify a position of a dental arch in the image data; determines a treatment outcome for the dental arch; generates a post-treatment image of the dental arch that shows the treatment outcome; generates updated image data comprising a superimposition of the post-treatment image of the dental arch over the received image data; and sends the updated image data to the mobile device. The mobile device outputs the updated image data to the display, wherein the post-treatment image of the dental arch is superimposed over the dental arch in the received image data such that the post-treatment image is visible in the display rather than a true depiction of the dental arch.

Abstract: A mobile computing device comprises an AR display, an image capture device that generates image data of a face of a viewer of the AR display, and a processing device. The processing device receives the image data; processes the image data to identify a position of a dental arch in the image data; determines a treatment outcome for the dental arch; generates a post-treatment image of the dental arch that shows the treatment outcome; generates updated image data comprising a superimposition of the post-treatment image of the dental arch over the received image data depicting the face of the viewer; and outputs the updated image data to the AR display, wherein the post-treatment image of the dental arch is superimposed over the dental arch in the received image data such that the post-treatment image is visible in the AR display rather than a true depiction of the dental arch.

Abstract: An intraoral scanning system comprises and intraoral scanner and a processor. The intraoral scanner comprises one or more cameras and one or more structured light projectors, the intraoral scanner to generate a series of images using the one or more cameras, each image including at least a portion of a pattern projected by the one or more structured light projectors onto an intraoral three-dimensional surface. The processor runs a correspondence algorithm to compute respective three-dimensional positions of a plurality of features of the pattern on the intraoral three-dimensional surface, as captured in the series of images. The processor identifies the computed three-dimensional position of a detected feature of the pattern as corresponding to a particular projector ray r, in at least a subset of the series of images. The processor tracks the particular projector ray r across one or more additional images of the series of images.

Abstract: A system comprises an image capture device, an augmented reality (AR) display to display, and a processing device. The processing deice receives image data of a dental arch from the image capture device and processes the image data using a plurality of detection rules, where each detection rule detects one or more dental conditions. The processing device determines a dental condition for the dental arch based on the processing, determines a position of an area of interest on the dental arch, wherein the area of interest is associated with the dental condition, generates a visual overlay comprising an indication of the dental condition at the position of the area of interest, and outputs the visual overlay to the AR display, wherein the visual overlay is superimposed over a view of the dental arch on the AR display at the position of the area of interest.

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.

Abstract: A method for generating a 3D image includes driving structured light projector(s) to project a pattern of light on an intraoral 3D surface, and driving camera(s) to capture images, each image including at least a portion of the projected pattern, each one of the camera(s) comprising an array of pixels. A processor compares a series of images captured by each camera and determines which of the portions of the projected pattern can be tracked across the images. The processor constructs a three-dimensional model of the intraoral three-dimensional surface based at least in part on the comparison of the series of images. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An image of a dental arch comprising a preparation tooth is generated by an image capture device associated with an augmented reality (AR) display. The image of the dental arch is registered to previous image data associated with the dental arch. A visual overlay associated with a dental prosthetic to be placed on the preparation tooth is generated based on the registering of the image of the dental arch to the previous image data associated with the dental arch. The visual overlay is output to the AR display, wherein the visual overlay is superimposed over a view of the preparation tooth on the AR display.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral scanning includes an elongate handheld wand that has a probe. One or more light projectors and two or more cameras are disposed within the probe. The light projectors each has a pattern generating optical element, which may use diffraction or refraction to form a light pattern. Each camera may be configured to focus between 1 mm and 30 mm from a lens that is farthest from the camera sensor. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A processing device may execute instructions from a computer readable medium to perform operations comprising: making a comparison between first image data of at least a portion of a dental arch and second image data of at least the portion of the dental arch; determining a plurality of differences between a first representation of at least the portion of the dental arch in the first image data and a second representation of at least the portion of the dental arch in the second image data; determining that a first difference of the plurality of differences is attributable to tooth movement; determining that a second difference of the plurality of differences is attributable to tooth wear to one or more teeth on at least a portion of the dental arch; and generating a third representation of at least the portion of the dental arch that is a modified version of the second representation, wherein a visual indication of the tooth wear is provided in the third representation.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral scanning comprises an elongate handheld wand comprising a probe at a distal end, one or more light projectors, and two or more cameras. Each light projector comprises at least one light source configured to generate light and a pattern generating optical element configured to generate a pattern of light when the light is transmitted through the pattern generating optical element. Each camera comprises a camera sensor and one or more lenses and is configured to capture a plurality of images that depict at least a portion of the projected pattern of light on an intraoral surface, wherein each camera is configured to focus at an object focal plane that is located between about 1 mm and about 30 mm from a lens of the one or more lenses that is farthest from the camera sensor.

Abstract: Processing logic makes a comparison between first image data and second image data of a dental arch and determines a plurality of spatial differences between a first representation of the dental arch in the first image data and a second representation of the dental arch in the second image data. The processing logic determines that a first spatial difference is attributable to scanner inaccuracy and that a second spatial difference is attributable to a clinical change to the dental arch. The processing logic generates a third representation of the dental arch that is a modified version of the second representation, wherein the first spatial difference is removed in the third representation, and wherein the third representation comprises a visual enhancement that accentuates the second spatial difference.

Abstract: A processing device receives, from an image capture device associated with an augmented reality (AR) display, a plurality of images of a face of a patient. The processing device selects a subset of the plurality of images that meet one or more image selection criteria. The selection comprises determining, from the plurality of images, a first image that represents a first position extreme for the face; determining, from the plurality of images, a second image that represents a second position extreme of the face; selecting the first image; and selecting the second image. The processing device further generates a model of a jaw of the patient based at least in part on the subset of the plurality of images that have been selected.

Abstract: An image of a dental arch comprising a preparation tooth is generated by an image capture device associated with an augmented reality (AR) display. The image of the dental arch is registered to previous image data associated with the dental arch. A visual overlay associated with a dental prosthetic to be placed on the preparation tooth is generated based on the registering of the image of the dental arch to the previous image data associated with the dental arch. The visual overlay is output to the AR display, wherein the visual overlay is superimposed over a view of the preparation tooth on the AR display.

Abstract: A mobile computing device comprises an AR display, an image capture device that generates image data of a face of a viewer of the AR display, and a processing device. The processing device receives the image data; processes the image data to identify a position of a dental arch in the image data; determines a treatment outcome for the dental arch; generates a post-treatment image of the dental arch that shows the treatment outcome; generates updated image data comprising a superimposition of the post-treatment image of the dental arch over the received image data depicting the face of the viewer; and outputs the updated image data to the AR display, wherein the post-treatment image of the dental arch is superimposed over the dental arch in the received image data such that the post-treatment image is visible in the AR display rather than a true depiction of the dental arch.

Abstract: A method of using AR for dentistry and orthodontics is provided. An image of a dental arch is received, the image having been generated by an image capture device associated with an augmented reality (AR) display. A processing device registers the image to previous image data associated with the dental arch, compares one or more areas of the dental arch from the image to one or more corresponding areas of the dental arch from the previous image data, determines a position of an area of interest on the dental arch based on the comparing, generates a visual overlay comprising an indication of the area of interest, and outputs the visual overlay to the AR display, wherein the visual overlay is superimposed over a view of the dental arch on the AR display at the position of the area of interest.

Abstract: A kiosk comprises an AR display, an image capture device that generates image data of a face of a viewer of the AR display, and a processing device. The processing device receives the image data of the face; processes the image data to identify a position of a dental arch in the image data; determines a treatment outcome for the dental arch; generates a post-treatment image of the dental arch that shows the treatment outcome; generates updated image data comprising a superimposition of the post-treatment image of the dental arch over the received image data depicting the face of the viewer; and outputs the updated image data to the AR display, wherein the post-treatment image of the dental arch is superimposed over the dental arch in the received image data such that the post-treatment image is visible in the AR display rather than a true depiction of the dental arch.