Abstract: A three-dimensional computer model of the patient's tooth, including the pulp chamber and root canals, is created by combining at least one grey value image of the tooth and/or surface information about at least part of the intra-orally visible part of the tooth with a statistical, parameterized shape model of each tooth type (upper or lower incisors, canines, pre-molars, molars) as the patient's tooth to be treated. This allows for planning and/or simulation of one or more root canal treatments on the computer model of the patient's tooth and that the dentist or dental specialist is given qualitative and/or quantitative information by the system in order to aid in adequately analyzing the risks related to performing the root canal treatment with the proposed or user-selected endodontic tools.

Abstract: System or components such as software for 3D modelling of bodies is described. This can be realized by a computer based method for modelling a body by scanning a determined space divided into elementary spaces, each elementary space being assigned a signed distance parameter indicative of the distance of said elementary space to said body and a weight parameter indicative of the importance of the distance parameter; said scanning of said body providing scanned points and each scanned point thus obtained possibly modifying said signed distance and weight parameters of each elementary space of said determined space; wherein, each one of selected elementary spaces is modified by subdividing said selected elementary space into higher level elementary spaces defined by the same parameters; wherein, in order to decrease details of the model of said body, said elementary spaces are modified by replacing selected elementary spaces with lower level elementary spaces.

Abstract: A three-dimensional computer model of the patient's tooth, including the pulp chamber and root canals, is created by combining at least one grey value image of the tooth and/or surface information about at least part of the intra-orally visible part of the tooth with a statistical, parameterized shape model of each tooth type (upper or lower incisors, canines, pre-molars, molars) as the patient's tooth to be treated. This allows for planning and/or simulation of one or more root canal treatments on the computer model of the patient's tooth and that the dentist or dental specialist is given qualitative and/or quantitative information by the system in order to aid in adequately analyzing the risks related to performing the root canal treatment with the proposed or user-selected endodontic tools.

Abstract: A three-dimensional computer model of the patient's tooth, including the pulp chamber and root canals, is created by combining at least one grey value image of the tooth and/or surface information about at least part of the intra-orally visible part of the tooth with a statistical, parameterized shape model of each tooth type (upper or lower incisors, canines, pre-molars, molars) as the patient's tooth to be treated. This allows for planning and/or simulation of one or more root canal treatments on the computer model of the patient's tooth and that the dentist or dental specialist is given qualitative and/or quantitative information by the system in order to aid in adequately analyzing the risks related to performing the root canal treatment with the proposed or user-selected endodontic tools.

Abstract: Systems and methods, devices and software are described for use in image comparison such as required for medical planning such as in dental implantology or other applications that require registration of digital images. A method and system is described for automatically finding correspondences between two or more digital representations such as images of one or more 3D objects with an identical, partially identical or similar geometry. The method and system, devices and software have the advantage that although the different digital representations of the object may be influenced by either noise, or scatter, or occlusion, or clutter, or any combination of these, correspondence can be found.

Abstract: A device for endodontic treatment simulation is described including: at least one physical tooth model including pulp chamber and root canals, manufactured by way of layered manufacturing or rapid prototyping techniques and corresponding to a real-life endodontic case. Methods and systems for designing and manufacturing the device are also described.

Abstract: A computer based method and system for defining and representing a shape and geometry of an occlusal access cavity to the tooth roots prior to endodontic treatment, include the step or elements for: loading onto the computer information of the geometry of a tooth obtained via one or more imaging techniques, creation of a 3D computer model of the tooth, including its internal architecture, visualization of the computer model, visualization of the location(s) of the entrance(s) to root canal(s) relative to the tooths occlusal surface, and based on the locations of the root canal orifices a shape of the access cavity is calculated.

Abstract: System or components such as software for 3D modelling of bodies is described. This can be realized by a computer based method for modelling a body by scanning a determined space divided into elementary spaces, each elementary space being assigned a signed distance parameter indicative of the distance of said elementary space to said body and a weight parameter indicative of the importance of the distance parameter; said scanning of said body providing scanned points and each scanned point thus obtained possibly modifying said signed distance and weight parameters of each elementary space of said determined space; wherein, each one of selected elementary spaces is modified by subdividing said selected elementary space into higher level elementary spaces defined by the same parameters; wherein, in order to decrease details of the model of said body, said elementary spaces are modified by replacing selected elementary spaces with lower level elementary spaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods, devices and software are described for use in image comparison such as required for medical planning such as in dental implantology or other applications that require registration of digital images. A method and system is described for automatically finding correspondences between two or more digital representations such as images of one or more 3D objects with an identical, partially identical or similar geometry. The method and system, devices and software have the advantage that although the different digital representations of the object may be influenced by either noise, or scatter, or occlusion, or clutter, or any combination of these, correspondence can be found.

Abstract: A computer based method and system for defining and representing a shape and geometry of an occlusal access cavity to the tooth roots prior to endodontic treatment, include the step or elements for: loading onto the computer information of the geometry of a tooth obtained via one or more imaging techniques, creation of a 3D computer model of the tooth, including its internal architecture, visualisation of the computer model, visualisation of the location(s) of the entrance(s) to root canal(s) relative to the tooths occlusal surface, and based on the locations of the root canal orifices a shape of the access cavity is calculated.

Abstract: A three-dimensional computer model of the patient's tooth, including the pulp chamber and root canals, is created by combining at least one grey value image of the tooth and/or surface information about at least part of the intra-orally visible part of the tooth with a statistical, parameterized shape model of each tooth type (upper or lower incisors, canines, pre-molars, molars) as the patient's tooth to be treated. This allows for planning and/or simulation of one or more root canal treatments on the computer model of the patient's tooth and that the dentist or dental specialist is given qualitative and/or quantitative information by the system in order to aid in adequately analyzing the risks related to performing the root canal treatment with the proposed or user-selected endodontic tools.

Abstract: A device for endodontic treatment simulation is described including: at least one physical tooth model including pulp chamber and root canals, manufactured by way of layered manufacturing or rapid prototyping techniques and corresponding to a real-life endodontic case. Methods and systems for designing and manufacturing the device are also described.

Abstract: A method for automatic, or semi-automatic, planning of dental treatment for a patient comprises: (a) obtaining data about an area which is to be treated and data about a face of a patient; (b) performing a computer-assisted analysis of the data to determine properties of at least the face of the patient; (c) creating a modified tooth set-up using a set of stored rules which make use of the determined facial properties. A three-dimensional representation simulates the appearance of the modified tooth set-up and the patient's face surrounding the treatment area. The method also determines properties of existing teeth and creates a modified tooth set-up which is also based on the existing teeth of the patient. The method can be implemented as software running on a workstation.

Abstract: The invention features computer based methods and systems for obtaining information about tooth movement caused by at least one orthodontic element fixed on a dentition. The invention also features computer programs for generating, when executed, a method for obtaining information about tooth movement caused by at least one orthodontic element fixed on a dentition, as well as non-transitory machine readable storage media containing such computer programs.

Abstract: Use of computer technology for image-assisted risk assessment/evaluation of proposed dental treatments is described, in particular a method and apparatus for determining the impact of a proposed dental modification on the temporomandibular joint(s), e.g. to obtain information relating to that impact. Use of a virtual articulator is described to determine the impact of a proposed dental modification on the temporomandibular joint(s). This dental modification includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of one or more teeth by artificial teeth, the replacement of one or more parts of a tooth by a prosthetic reconstruction such as a dental crown or veneer, the rearrangement of one or more existing teeth (orthodontic treatment), the distraction of one or both jaws in order to reposition the teeth (orthognatic treatment) and/or modifications of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

Abstract: A patient's dentition is analysed to determine an orthodontic treatment plan by simulating an intervention in advance. 3D imaging techniques and computer technology are used to simulate and predict tooth movement as a function of the chosen treatment, i.e. a specific orthodontic appliance. In this way treatment options can be compared and the most optimal (shortest treatment time, lowest forces . . . ) treatment for each individual patient can be selected. Sub-steps of the tooth movement are not predefined but computed based on a simulation of orthodontic elements and wire as they would be used in the orthodontic treatment of the patient. This means that the sub-steps are calculated based on the relationship between the applied loads and the tooth movement; only one of both parameters can be chosen freely.

Abstract: A method for automatic, or semi-automatic, planning of dental treatment for a patient comprises: (a) obtaining data about an area which is to be treated and data about a face of a patient; (b) performing a computer-assisted analysis of the data to determine properties of at least the face of the patient; (c) creating a modified tooth set-up using a set of stored rules which make use of the determined facial properties. A three-dimensional representation simulates the appearance of the modified tooth set-up and the patient's face surrounding the treatment area. The method also determines properties of existing teeth and creates a modified tooth set-up which is also based on the existing teeth of the patient. The method can be implemented as software running on a workstation.