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The invention provides a digital dentistry system that utilizes a haptic interface and features a computer-based design application configured to allow the intuitive construction of irregular, amorphous three-dimensional structures typically seen in dental restorations, utilizing, where appropriate,

The invention provides a digital dentistry system that utilizes a haptic interface and features a computer-based design application configured to allow the intuitive construction of irregular, amorphous three-dimensional structures typically seen in dental restorations, utilizing, where appropriate, the design skills of a user. In certain embodiments, the system provides a comprehensive digital solution for dental labs in the business of creating dental restorations such as partial frameworks, crowns, copings, bridge frameworks, implants and the like, with a sense of touch provided by a haptic interface device.

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1. A system for building a virtual wax object corresponding to a three-dimensional dental restoration, the system comprising: a user interface configured to receive input from a user; anda design application in communication with the user interface, wherein the design application comprises: a design

1. A system for building a virtual wax object corresponding to a three-dimensional dental restoration, the system comprising: a user interface configured to receive input from a user; anda design application in communication with the user interface, wherein the design application comprises: a design module configured to produce a virtual refractory model, the virtual refractory model comprising (a) an initial 3D computer model created from a scan of a dental stone or created from a scan of a patient's mouth, and (b) virtual block-out wax added to fill in undercuts of the initial 3D computer model and, optionally, a defective portion of the initial 3D computer model; andone or more virtual wax-up tools configured to build the virtual wax object corresponding to the three-dimensional dental restoration onto the virtual refractory model according to user input via the user interface, wherein the undercuts are automatically identified based at least in part on a geometry of the initial 3D computer model and a direction of insertion of the three-dimensional dental restoration, wherein the virtual block-out wax is added automatically via a processor or semi-automatically via the user interface, and wherein components (a) and (b) of the virtual refractory model are separately stored volumes that are combined with a volumetric union operation to produce the virtual refractory model. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual wax object is predominately voxel based, and has a boundary representation geometry near a margin line. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax-up tools comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of a virtual mesh tool, a virtual ridge tool, a virtual clasp tool, a virtual finish line tool, and a virtual lingual collar tool. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax-up tools comprises a virtual mesh tool. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the virtual mesh tool builds a three-dimensional patterned mesh portion of the virtual wax object within an arbitrary, user-identified region of a surface of the virtual refractory model with minimal distortion. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the virtual mesh tool splits a user-defined closed loop curve fit to the surface of the virtual refractory model into four boundary curves within which a NURBS patch is fit. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the virtual mesh tool further builds a spacer volume of a user-defined thickness, along with the three-dimensional patterned mesh portion. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax up tools comprises a virtual ridge tool. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual ridge tool builds a long extruded wax pattern with a profile and end taper characteristic suitable for creation of clasps and finish lines around a mesh areas in a partial framework. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual ridge tool accepts as input one or more guide curves, one or more cross-sectional profiles, and one or more end taper parameters determined by the user. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more guide curves, one or more cross-sectional profiles, and one or more end taper parameters are selected by the user from a system-wide preferences database. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the user interface is a haptic interface device configured to provide force feedback to the user and wherein the virtual ridge tool comprises one or more haptic aids delivered to the user via the haptic interface device to assist the user in creating and/or editing the one or more guide curves, the one or more cross-sectional profiles, or both. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more haptic aids comprises a haptic snap corresponding to each of a plurality of points of the one or more guide curves, facilitating selection of one or more points of the one or more guide curves by the user for adjustment. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more haptic aids comprises a two-dimensional restriction plane, facilitating selection and adjustment of profile points and/or handles of the one or more cross-sectional profiles. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax up tools comprises a virtual clasp tool. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the virtual clasp tool builds a simple ring clasp, a J-shaped clasp, or a T-shaped clasp based on one or more user-selected guide curves, profiles, and parameters defining end taper conditions. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax up tools comprises a virtual finish line tool. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax up tools comprises a virtual lingual collar tool. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a haptic interface device configured to provide force feedback to the user and wherein the haptic interface device comprises a stylus interface. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a haptic interface device configured to provide force feedback to the user and wherein the haptic interface device has at least six degrees of freedom. 21. The system of claim 1, wherein the dental restoration is a member selected from the group consisting of a partial framework, crown and bridge, implant, veneer, night guard, bite splint, and orthodonture. 22. The system of claim 1, wherein the design application further comprises a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of icons representing a plurality of virtual tools. 23. The system of claim 1, wherein the design module is configured to allow manual adjustment of the virtual block-out wax. 24. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual wax-up tools comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of: a virtual mesh tool configured to build a three-dimensional patterned mesh portion of the virtual wax object within an arbitrary, user-identified region of a surface of the virtual refractory model with minimal distortion;a virtual ridge tool configured to build a long extruded wax pattern with a profile and end taper characteristic suitable for creation of clasps and finish lines around mesh areas in a partial framework;a virtual clasp tool configured to build a simple ring clasp, a J-shaped clasp, or a T-shaped clasp based on one or more user-selected guide curves, profiles, and parameters defining end taper conditions. 25. A method for designing a three-dimensional dental restoration, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating an initial 3D computer model from a scan of a dental stone made from an impression of a patient's mouth, or, alternatively, creating the initial 3D computer model from a direct scan of the patient's mouth;(b) automatically adding virtual block-out wax via a processor, or semi-automatically adding virtual block-out wax via a user interface, to an undercut portion of the initial 3D computer model based at least in part on a geometry of the initial 3D computer model and a direction of insertion of the three-dimensional dental restoration,(c) joining the initial 3D computer model and the added virtual block-out wax, thereby forming a virtual refractory model, wherein the initial 3D computer model and the added virtual block-out wax of the virtual refractory model are separately stored volumes that are combined with a volumetric union operation to produce the virtual refractory model;(d) adding virtual design wax onto the virtual refractory model to define a final 3D computer model of the dental restoration;wherein the undercut portion is automatically identified based at least in part on the geometry of the initial 3D computer model and the direction of insertion of the three-dimensional dental restoration. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of adding virtual relief wax. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the virtual relief wax is added automatically. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the virtual relief wax is added manually. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the virtual relief wax corrects one or more scanning errors in the scan of the dental stone and/or prevents one or more fit errors that may arise during casting of the dental restoration, and wherein the one or more scanning errors are caused by bubbles and/or holes in the dental stone and wherein the one or more fit errors are caused by high frequencies and/or hard corners in the dental stone. 30. The method of claim 25, comprising automatically identifying a user-adjustable margin line. 31. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one step is performed using a haptic interface device configured to provide force feedback to a user. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the haptic interface device comprises a stylus. 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the haptic interface device comprises at least six degrees of freedom. 34. The method of claim 25, wherein step (d) comprises using one or more virtual wax-up tools selected from the group consisting of a clone tool, a major connector tool, a mesh tool, a ridge tool, a clasp tool, a finish tool, and a lingual collar tool. 35. The method of claim 25, wherein the final 3D computer model comprises a voxel-based representation and a boundary representation. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the boundary representation improves precision of an identified margin line and cement gap. 37. The method of claim 25, comprising manually adjusting the block-out wax on the undercut portion of the initial 3D computer model. 38. The method of claim 25, comprising manufacturing the three-dimensional dental restoration using the final 3D computer model of the dental restoration. 39. An apparatus for preparing a virtual refractory model in a design of a three-dimensional dental restoration, the apparatus comprising: (a) memory that stores code defining a set of instructions; and(b) a processor that executes said instructions thereby to: (i) create an initial 3D computer model from a scan of a dental stone or a patient situation;(ii) automatically add virtual block-out wax via a processor, or semi-automatically add virtual block-out wax via a user interface, to an undercut portion of the initial 3D computer model based at least in part on a geometry of the initial 3D computer model and a direction of insertion of the three-dimensional dental restoration; and(iii) update the initial 3D computer model to incorporate the added virtual block-out wax upon a user command, thereby preparing a virtual refractory model onto which a virtual wax object corresponding to the three-dimensional dental restoration can be built, wherein the initial 3D computer model and the added virtual block-out wax of the virtual refractory model are separately stored volumes that are combined with a volumetric union operation to produce the virtual refractory model, wherein the undercut portion is automatically identified based at least in part on the geometry of the initial 3D computer model and the direction of insertion of the three-dimensional dental restoration. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions, before the step (ii) of adding virtual block-out wax, to modify the initial 3D computer model by carving or smoothing bubble artifacts or by ditching a prepared teeth. 41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions, before the step (iii) of updating the initial 3D computer model, to add virtual relief wax to the scan of the dental stone and/or the initial 3D computer model created from the scan of the dental stone to correct one or more errors due to scanning and/or casting the dental stone. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the one or more errors are caused by bubbles, holes, high frequencies, and/or hard corners in the dental stone. 43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions to automatically add virtual relief wax. 44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions to enable manual addition of virtual relief wax by a user. 45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the initial 3D computer model is a multi-representational model including a voxel-based representation and a boundary representation. 46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the three-dimensional dental restoration is a member selected from the group consisting of a partial framework, crown, coping, bridge framework, implant, veneer, night guard, bite splint, and orthodonture. 47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the virtual refractory model comprises a first volume component corresponding to the scan of the dental stone or the patient situation and a second, separate volume component corresponding to a volume of the virtual block-out wax added to the model. 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the processor executes said instructions to further create a virtual wax object corresponding to the three-dimensional dental restoration, wherein the virtual wax object is built onto the virtual refractory model. 49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the virtual wax object is a multi-representational model including a voxel-based representation and a boundary representation. 50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the user command comprises activation of a button. 51. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions to automatically identify and display the undercut portion of the initial 3D computer model graphically on a graphical interface based at least in part on the direction of insertion, thereby distinguishing the undercut portion from a non-undercut portion of the initial 3D computer model, wherein the direction of insertion is user-selected. 52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the undercut portion is displayed with contrasting colors based on degree of undercut. 53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the processor executes said instructions to display said initial 3D computer model in real time as the user adds virtual block-out wax via the user interface, wherein a reduction of the undercut portion is displayed to the user in real time as the user adds virtual block-out wax. 54. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions to create a jagged understructure in the virtual refractory model. 55. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions to apply a set of preferences to the virtual refractory model based on one or more parameters specified by a user. 56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the one or more parameters comprises or corresponds to patient data and/or a material to be used in the dental restoration. 57. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor executes said instructions to enable manual adjustment of the block-out wax on the undercut portion of the initial 3D model.