System and method for positioning three-dimensional brackets on teeth

摘要

System and methods for positioning 3D virtual brackets on teeth for the precise positioning of conventional brackets and wire. Various reference features may be calculated for the teeth and used to calculate a position for the virtual bracket. Reference features that are calculated include curve of Spee, Andrew's plane, and a facial axis of the clinical crown for the teeth.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for positioning a virtual bracket on a patient's teeth with a computer, comprising:
a) receiving, using the computer, an electronic three-dimensional data representation of the patient's teeth in desired target positions; b) generating, on a display, a plane or surface passing through a crown of each of a plurality of teeth in an arch of the patient's teeth in the desired target positions, the generated plane or surface on the display defined at least in part by at least one of a curve of Spee or an Andrew's plane corresponding to the received three-dimensional data representation; c) generating, using the computer, a graphical representation of the generated plane or surface that is manipulable on the display by a user so as to modify the generated plane or surface; and d) determining, using the computer, an initial position for the virtual bracket on the patient's teeth in the desired target positions based on the graphical representation of the generated plane or surface shown on the display, wherein a slot of the virtual bracket is aligned with the graphical representation of the generated plane or surface shown on the display, and the virtual bracket is aligned with a facial axis of the clinical crown (FACC) of a tooth of the patient's teeth.