Align Technology, Inc.

Maria Anufrienko

Avi Kopelman

Adi Levin

Michael Sabina

Mikhail Minchenkov

An intraoral scanner generates 2D images of a dental site and 3D intraoral scans of the dental site. The computing device receives the 2D images of the dental site and the 3D intraoral scans of the dental site from the intraoral scanner, generates a 3D model of the dental site based on the 3D intraoral scans of the dental site, and processes at least one of a) one or more of the 2D images of the dental site, b) one or more of the 3D intraoral scans of the dental site, or c) data from the 3D model of the dental site to identify one or more intraoral areas of interest (AOIs) at the dental site. The computing device determines a dental condition associated with the one or more intraoral AOIs, and determines a manner for scanning the one or more intraoral AOIs.

Intraoral scanning and dental condition identification

A method for distinguishing between types of intraoral areas of interest (AOIs) includes receiving or generating a first 3D model comprising teeth; receiving or generating a second 3D model comprising the teeth; comparing the first 3D model to the second 3D model; determining a difference between the first 3D model and the second 3D model at a dental site comprising a tooth; determining an intraoral AOI that is associated with the difference; determining whether the difference comprises a first type of change indicative of a first type of intraoral AOI or a second type of change indicative of a second type of intraoral AOI; and responsive to determining that the difference comprises the first type of change, determining that the intraoral AOI is the first type of intraoral AOI and generating an indicator of the first type of intraoral AOI for the tooth.

Identification of intraoral areas of interest

In an implementation, a processing device receives first intraoral scan data generated at a first time and analyzes the first intraoral scan data to determine a first representation of a caries from the first intraoral scan data. The processing device receives second intraoral scan data generated at a second time and analyzes the second intraoral scan data to determine a second representation of the caries from the second intraoral scan data. The processing device compares the second representation of the caries to the first representation of the caries and tracks the caries over time based on a difference between the second representation of the caries and the first representation of the caries.

Caries detection using intraoral scan data

In embodiments, a first 3D model of a patient's teeth based on first intraoral scan data taken at a first time is processed to recognize the teeth in the first 3D model. A second 3D model of the patient's teeth based on second intraoral scan data taken at a second time is processed to recognize the teeth in the second 3D model. The first 3D model is compared to the second 3D model and a plurality of AOIs in the second virtual 3D model representative of at least one of tooth wear, tooth breakage, tooth movement, gingival recession or gingival swelling are determined based on the comparison. The teeth recognized in the first 3D model are compared to the teeth recognized in the second 3D model, and one or more AOIs in the second virtual 3D model representative of tooth wear or tooth breakage are determined based on the comparison.

A processing device performs image registration between a plurality of intraoral images of a dental site. The processing device identifies a candidate intraoral area of interest from a first intraoral image of the plurality of intraoral images. The processing device verifies the candidate intraoral area of interest as an intraoral area of interest based on a comparison of a second intraoral image to the first intraoral image. The processing device displays a view of the dental site where the intraoral area of interest is hidden and an indication of the hidden intraoral area of interest is visible.

Identification of areas of interest during intraoral scans

A processing device receives a first virtual 3D model and a second virtual 3D model, each comprising one or more teeth of a patient. The processing device compares the first virtual 3D model to the second virtual 3D model and determines, as a result of the comparing, a difference between the first virtual 3D model and the second virtual 3D model at a dental site comprising a tooth of the one or more teeth. The processing device determines whether the difference comprises a first type of change to the tooth that is indicative of tooth wear or a second type of change to the tooth that is indicative of tooth movement associated with orthodontic treatment. Responsive to determining that the first difference comprises the first type of change to the first tooth, the processing device generates a first indicator of the tooth wear for the tooth.

During an intraoral scan session, a processing device receives a first intraoral image of a dental site and identifies a candidate intraoral area of interest from the first intraoral image. The processing device receives a second intraoral image of the dental site and verifies the first candidate intraoral area of interest as an intraoral area of interest based on comparison of the second intraoral image to the first intraoral image. The processing device then provides an indication of the intraoral area of interest during the intraoral scan session.

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Moscow, Russia

Maria Anufrienko