IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0918056
(2001-07-30)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lehmann, Maryann
- Vock, Curtis A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Shade Analyzing Technologies, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
30 인용 특허 :
51 |
초록
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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
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.
대표청구항
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1. A method for restoration of a patient's tooth which comprises:generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth in a dentist's office, wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade;designing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs
1. A method for restoration of a patient's tooth which comprises:generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth in a dentist's office, wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade;designing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs of the patient; andforwarding the electronic image to a dental laboratory, wherein a technician evaluates the image and, if necessary, suggests restorative options to the dentist and the dentist and the dental restoration laboratory simultaneously have access to the electronic image. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dentist forwards to the laboratory the preliminary treatment plan along with the electronic image, the laboratory technician provides feedback on the treatment plan, and the dentist and the technician simultaneously have access to the preliminary treatment plan and the feedback. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the image includes information about the patients' tooth color, the preliminary treatment plan includes a determination of at least one matching shade of material to restore the tooth, and the technician either confirms the dentist's determination of restoration material shade or suggests an alternative shade. 4. The method of claim 3, which further comprises electronically storing color information representative of a plurality of tooth shades on a computer at the dentist office; 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 before sending the identified color(s) to the laboratory. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the image of the patient's tooth is automatically compared to the stored tooth shade color information electronically by the computer. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the image of the patient's tooth is electronically displayed with color pixels to assist in determining the color of the patient's tooth shade. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the patient's tooth shade as determined by selecting one or more pixels of the image, which pixels correspond to differential spatial locations of the patient's tooth, that provide similar color information and electronically comparing that color information with the stored tooth shade color information to determine the color of that portion of the patient's tooth. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein selection of the pixel(s) is repeated until a tooth shade color is determined for all spatial locations of the image of the patient's tooth, with the patient's tooth shade being determined by averaging the color information at selected pixel locations of the image before electronically comparing the averaged color information with the stored tooth shade color information. 9. The method of claim 4, which further comprises utilizing a digital camera to obtain the image of the patient's tooth and utilizing the same camera to obtain the color information of the tooth shades before electronically storing the color information. 10. A method for restoration of a patient's tooth which comprises:generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth or tooth preparation in a dentist's office, wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade;designing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs of the patient; andforwarding the electronic image to a dental laboratory by direct computer link or e-mail, wherein a technician evaluates the image and suggests restorative options to the dentist and the dentist and the dental restoration laboratory simultaneously have access to the electronic image. 11. A method for restoration of a patient's tooth which comprises:generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth preparation in a dentist's office, wherein the image includes color information representative of the patient's tooth shade;designing a preliminary treatment p lan for addressing the dental needs of the patient; andforwarding the electronic image and the preliminary treatment plan to a dental laboratory, wherein a technician evaluates the image and suggests restorative options to the dentist, including whether further preparation is required, and the dentist and the dental restoration laboratory simultaneously have access to the electronic image and the preliminary treatment plan. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the dentist or technician accesses an interactive website to review step-by-step procedures to determine an appropriate restorative procedure and to obtain feedback for any specific dental needs for the patient's tooth. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the laboratory technician suggests restoration materials and treatment modalities for completing the restoration of the patient's tooth. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the dentist accesses an interactive website to obtain preparation information, identify tools to carry out the preparation, or to identity sources where tools or materials for use in the restoration may be obtained. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the laboratory technician prepares a dental prosthesis; takes an image of the prosthesis; and compare the prosthesis image to the image provided by the dentist before the prosthesis is permanently placed in the patient. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the laboratory manufactures the prosthesis utilizing a plurality of pore lain coatings. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the image of the prosthesis provides color information that is compared to the image of the patient's tooth to confirm color matching. 18. An interactive dental restoration method between a dentist and a dental restoration laboratory which comprises:identifying a dental restoration need in a patient;creating a digitized image in computer readable format of at least a portion of a tooth of the patient;transferring the digitized image to a software program on a computer;creating a patient file on the computer containing the digitized image;designing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs of the patient;enhancing the digitized image using the software program to create an enhanced image, andadding text information to the image;transmitting the preliminary treatment plan via e-mail using the software program over a communications network to a dental restoration laboratory; anddirectly communicating between the dentist and dental restoration laboratory over the communications network, wherein the dentist and dental restoration laboratory simultaneously have access to the enhanced digital image. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the enhancing step includes adjusting predetermined or user defined areas of the tooth image. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the enhancing step includes performing at least one filtering operation on the image. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the communications network includes the interact. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the communications network includes a direct connection between the dentist and dental restoration laboratory. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the computer is a database including stored patient information for a plurality of patients. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the computer is located in the dentist's office. 25. The method of claim 18, wherein the text information includes a label. 26. The method of claim 18, wherein the text information includes prosthesis materials. 27. The method of claim 18, wherein the design criteria includes digital image representations of dental restoration need. 28. The method of claim 18, wherein the design criteria includes proposed decay excavation. 29. The method of claim 18, wherein the design criteria includes tooth preparation information. 30. The method of claim 18, wherein the design criteria includes prosthesis color information. 31. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of communicating a fin al treatment plan, including modifications to the preliminary treatment plan, if necessary, to the dentist. 32. An interactive dental restoration method between a dentist and a dental restoration laboratory which comprises:identifying a dental restoration need in a patient,designing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs of the patient;transmitting the preliminary treatment plan via a communications network to a dental restoration laboratory for evaluation by a technician, wherein the dentist and the dental restoration laboratory simultaneously have access to the preliminary treatment plan; andcommunicating a final treatment plan, including the technician's modifications to the preliminary treatment plan, if necessary, to the dentist. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the dentist prepares the preliminary treatment plan and the design criteria include digital image representations of the dental restoration need. 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of evaluating the preliminary treatment plan at the laboratory by the technician and making changes before communicating the final treatment plan to the dentist. 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of implementing the final treatment plan in the patient and transmitting interim preparation information to the laboratory for survey with confirmation prior to completing the final treatment plan. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the design criteria include tooth preparation and proposed decay excavation. 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of communicating a confirmation or modification of the acceptability of one or more of the proposed design criteria from the laboratory to the dentist.
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