Shade Analyzing Technologies, Inc.

Ivoclar Vivadent Ag

Maryann Lehmann

Curtis A Vock

Perry Youngs

Robert A Ganley

Adrian Larkin

The invention relates to a computer readable medium that includes one or more programs for carrying out a method for restoration of a patient's tooth. The method includes the steps of generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth; providing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs of the patient; and forwarding the electronic image and preliminary treatment plan to a dental laboratory so that technician can evaluate the image and treatment plan and in a manner such that the technician and dentist can review and discuss the preliminary treatment plan.

Interactive dental restorative network

The invention relates to a computer-based dental restoration system that include a network server having a database storing digital representations, and a communications network providing access to the network server and facilitating direct communication at least between a dentist and a practitioner. The a computer-based dental restoration system also include one or more computers for accessing digital representations over the communications network and displaying the digital representations in a humanly readable format.

The invention relates to a method of determining a tooth shade of at least a portion of a patient's tooth which is to be replaced or restored, by capturing an electronic image of the patient's tooth, the image including color information representative of the patient's tooth shade; storing color information representative of known tooth shades with each known tooth shade representing a different tooth color; calibrating the color information of the patient's tooth and the color information representative of known tooth shades; and comparing the color information of the patient's tooth with the stored color information to identify a single tooth shade or a combination of tooth shades with a color or combined color corresponding to the color of at least a portion of the patient's tooth, such that the patient's tooth may be comprised of a single tooth shade or a plurality of tooth shades.

Tooth shade analyzer system and methods

The invention relates to a computer readable medium comprising one or more programs for carrying out a method for determining a patient's tooth shade. The method generally includes the steps of generating an image of a patient's tooth wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade; storing color information representative of a plurality of tooth shades; and comparing the color information of the image with the stored tooth shade color information to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color that corresponds to the patient's tooth shade, and the color information that is obtained may be displayed to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color corresponding to the determined tooth color. Preferably, the displayed data includes RGB chromaticities of the color image, and the patient's tooth color is determined by averaging the color information at selected locations of the image which correspond to different spatial locations of the patient's tooth. If desired, the color information of the patient's tooth can be electronically stored for use at a later time.

The invention relates to a method for restoration of a patient's tooth. An electronic image of a patient's tooth or tooth preparation is generated in a dentist's office by the dentist. The image includes color information of the tooth preparation or of the patient's tooth shade. The electronic image is forwarded to a dental laboratory by direct computer link or e-mail. A technician at the laboratory evaluates the image and suggests restorative options to the dentist, including whether further tooth preparation is required. The technician also selects the appropriate restoration tooth shade(s) so that the dental prosthesis matches the color of the patient's tooth. The laboratory then manufactures the prosthesis utilizing a plurality of porcelain coatings. If desired, an image of the prosthesis can be generated in the laboratory and forwarded to the dentist for verification of color and/or fit prior to finalizing manufacture of the prosthesis.

An interactive dental restoration method and system for use between a dentist and a dental restoration laboratory. The method includes identifying a dental restoration need in a patient; designing a preliminary treatment plan that includes design criteria for preparation of a dental prosthesis to be placed in the patient to satisfy the dental restoration need; transmitting the preliminary treatment plan via a communications network to a dental restoration laboratory; and communicating a final treatment plan, including modifications to the preliminary treatment plan where necessary, to the dentist. The system includes a computer-based dental restoration system of a network server having a database storing information about materials, procedures and preparations concerning dental restoration prostheses; a communications network providing access to the network server; and one or more computers at a dental office accessing information stored at the database over the communications network and displaying the information in a humanly readable format. Preferably, the communications network is the Internet, and the information stored in the database comprises preparation diagrams, reduction dimensions, margin design and burs for specific dental restoration prostheses. Typically, the final treatment plan includes information about materials for preparing a dental prosthesis that satisfies the design criteria, and the dental prosthesis is then prepared for placement in the patient. This enables optimization of the dental restoration with significant savings in time and effort for the dentist, dental technician and the patient.

A method for determining a patient's tooth shade, by generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade; storing color information representative of a plurality of tooth shades; and comparing the color information of the image with the stored tooth shade color information to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color that corresponds to the patient's tooth shade. the image of the patient's tooth and the stored tooth shade color information are electronically displayed in color to enable a viewer to comparatively determine the color of the patient's tooth shade. Preferably, the patient's tooth shade is determined by selecting portions of the electronically displayed image of the tooth; determining the color of the selected portions; and comparing that color information with the stored tooth shade color information to determine the color of that portion of the patient's tooth. The selection of portions of the tooth is generally repeated until a tooth shade color is determined for all spatial locations of the image of the patient's tooth.

The invention relates to a method for determining a patient's tooth shade, by generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade; electronically storing color information representative of a plurality of tooth shades; and comparing the color information of the image with the stored tooth shade color information to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color that corresponds to the patient's tooth shade. Another method of the invention includes the steps of electronically imaging a patient's tooth to obtain an image that includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade; electronically displaying the color information of the image; selecting one or more pixels of the displayed image, which pixels correspond to differential spatial locations of the patient's tooth, that provide color information; and electronically comparing the color information from the selected pixels with the stored tooth shade color information to determine the color of that portion of the patient's tooth. A device and handpiece for carrying out the method and the reconstructed tooth that is obtained are additional aspects of the invention.

The invention relates to a method for determining a patient's tooth shade that includes the steps of electronically imaging a patient's tooth to obtain an image which includes color information representative of tooth color; determining the patient's tooth color from the color information of the image; and displaying the determined tooth color to identify one or more tooth shades having a combined color corresponding to the determined tooth color. Preferably, the displayed data includes RGB chromaticities of the color image, and the patient's tooth color is determined by averaging the color information at selected locations of the image which correspond to different spatial locations of the patient's tooth. If desired, the color information of the patient's tooth can be electronically stored for use at a later time.

A digital camera connects to a tooth shade analyzer subsystem, e.g., a digital video processor, and a color display monitor for the electronic determination of the color of patient's teeth. Preliminarily, the camera captures series of digital color images of tooth shades corresponding to reference shade guides, and electronically compares the reference shades to an image of the patient's tooth. In a preferred embodiment the comparison is done over a set of pseudo-pixels, each corresponding to a group of pixels in an high-resolution camera. Once a match is found, it is communicated to a user of the system. In a specific embodiment the camera is equipped with a sleeve and illumination subsystems that help reduce the variations in the color of digital images due to external factors.

System and methods for analyzing tooth shades

A tooth shade analyzing system and method of use. The system includes a digital camera which connects to a shade analyzer subsystem, e.g., a digital video processor, and a color display monitor. The camera captures a digital color image of the patient's tooth and the subsystem compares that image to a stored plurality of tooth shades. Each tooth shade is represented in a block of data, including color image data, a tooth shade digital word, and a manufacturer type. The patient's tooth image includes an RGB chromaticity representation that is scanned and compared with the several tooth shades stored in memory, and a match is determined and communicated to a user of the system. The method of use includes the specification of fractional tooth shades, if needed, corresponding to a plurality of porcelain films for manufacturing a reconstructed tooth.

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Darien, CT, United States of America

Maryann Lehmann