Pavloskaia, Elena (San Francisco, CA, US)
Wen, Huafeng (Redwood Shores, CA, US)

Plaque It!

10/670162

10/07/2008

09/23/2003

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Align Technology, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA, US)

703/6

703/1, 29/896.1, 703/7, 703/2

G06G7/48

703/6, 433/24, 703/1, 382/154, 382/128, 700/163, 433/2, 703/2, 700/118, 700/98, 29/896.1, 700/120, 345/420, 345/419, 703/7

3407500	Tooth positioner	October, 1968	Kesling
3600808	ANTERIOR ROOT-TORQUING AUXILIARY WIRE	August, 1971	Reeve
3683502	ORTHODONTIC SYSTEMS	August, 1972	Wallshein
3738005	METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS AND THE LIKE	June, 1973	Cohen
3922786	Method and apparatus for forming and fitting orthodontic appliances	December, 1975	Lavin
3983628	Dental articulator, new bite registration guide, and diagnostic procedure associated with stereodont orthodontic study model	October, 1976	Acevedo
4253828	Orthodontic appliance	March, 1981	Coles et al.
4324547	Dentistry technique	April, 1982	Arcan et al.
4500294	Method and device for detecting dental cavities	February, 1985	Lewis
4526540	Orthodontic apparatus and method for treating malocclusion	July, 1985	Dellinger
4575330	Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography	March, 1986	Hull
4591341	Orthodontic positioner and method of manufacturing same	May, 1986	Andrews
4609349	Active removable orthodontic appliance and method of straightening teeth	September, 1986	Cain
4664626	System for automatically preventing overtipping and/or overuprighting in the begg technique	May, 1987	Kesling
4676747	Torquing auxiliary	June, 1987	Kesling
4836778	Mandibular motion monitoring system	June, 1989	Baumrind et al.
4850865	Orthodontic method and apparatus	July, 1989	Napolitano
4877398	Bracket for permitting tipping and limiting uprighting	October, 1989	Kesling
4880380	Orthodonture appliance which may be manually installed and removed by the patient	November, 1989	Martz
4889238	Medicament package for increasing compliance with complex therapeutic regimens	December, 1989	Batchelor
4890608	Attachment assembly for use on the human skin	January, 1990	Steer
4935635	System for measuring objects in three dimensions	June, 1990	O'Harra
4941826	Apparatus for indirect dental machining	July, 1990	Loran et al.
4983334	Method of making an orthodontic appliance	January, 1991	Adell
5107444	Method and apparatus for flattening three-dimensional surfaces	April, 1992	Wu
5125832	Bracket for permitting tipping and limiting uprighting	June, 1992	Kesling
5130064	Method of making a three dimensional object by stereolithography	July, 1992	Smalley
5145364	Removable orthodontic appliance	September, 1992	Martz et al.
5176517	Dental undercut application device and method of use	January, 1993	Truax
5186623	Orthodontic finishing positioner and method of construction	February, 1993	Breads et al.
5257203	Method and apparatus for manipulating computer-based representations of objects of complex and unique geometry	October, 1993	Riley et al.
5273429	Method and apparatus for modeling a dental prosthesis	December, 1993	Rekow et al.
5278756	Method and apparatus for generating cephalometric images	January, 1994	Lemchen et al.
5328362	Soft resilient interocclusal dental appliance, method of forming same and composition for same	July, 1994	Watson et al.
5338198	Dental modeling simulator	August, 1994	Wu et al.
5340309	Apparatus and method for recording jaw motion	August, 1994	Robertson
5342202	Method for modelling cranio-facial architecture	August, 1994	Deshayes
5368478	Method for forming jigs for custom placement of orthodontic appliances on teeth	November, 1994	Andreiko et al.
5382164	Method for making dental restorations and the dental restoration made thereby	January, 1995	Stern
5395238	Method of forming orthodontic brace	March, 1995	Andreiko et al.
5431562	Method and apparatus for designing and forming a custom orthodontic appliance and for the straightening of teeth therewith	July, 1995	Andreiko et al.
5440326	Gyroscopic pointer	August, 1995	Quinn
5440496	Procedure and apparatus for producing individually designed, three-dimensional bodies usable as tooth replacements, prostheses, etc.	August, 1995	Andersson et al.
5447432	Custom orthodontic archwire forming method and apparatus	September, 1995	Andreiko et al.
5452219	Method of making a tooth mold	September, 1995	Dehoff et al.
5454717	Custom orthodontic brackets and bracket forming method and apparatus	October, 1995	Andreiko et al.
5456600	Coordinated orthodontic archwires and method of making same	October, 1995	Andreiko et al.
5474448	Low profile orthodontic appliance	December, 1995	Andreiko et al.
RE35169	Method for determining orthodontic bracket placement	March, 1996	Lemchen et al.
5518397	Method of forming an orthodontic brace	May, 1996	Andreiko et al.
5528735	Method and apparatus for displaying data within a three-dimensional information landscape	June, 1996	Strasnick et al.
5533895	Orthodontic appliance and group standardized brackets therefor and methods of making, assembling and using appliance to straighten teeth	July, 1996	Andreiko et al.
5542842	Bracket placement jig assembly and method of placing orthodontic brackets on teeth therewith	August, 1996	Andreiko et al.
5549476	Method for making dental restorations and the dental restoration made thereby	August, 1996	Stern
5562448	Method for facilitating dental diagnosis and treatment	October, 1996	Mushabac
5587912	Computer aided processing of three-dimensional object and apparatus therefor	December, 1996	Andersson et al.
5590248	Method for reducing the complexity of a polygonal mesh	December, 1996	Zarge et al.
5605459	Method of and apparatus for making a dental set-up model	February, 1997	Kuroda et al.
5607305	Process and device for production of three-dimensional dental bodies	March, 1997	Andersson et al.
5614075	Method of incremental object fabrication	March, 1997	Andre
5621648	Apparatus and method for creating three-dimensional modeling data from an object	April, 1997	Crump
5645420	Multi-racial preformed orthodontic treatment applicance	July, 1997	Bergersen
5645421	Orthodontic appliance debonder	July, 1997	Slootsky
5655653	Pouch for orthodontic appliance	August, 1997	Chester
5683243	Custom orthodontic appliance forming apparatus	November, 1997	Andreiko et al.
5692894	Thermoformed plastic dental retainer and method of construction	December, 1997	Schwartz et al.
5725376	Methods for manufacturing a dental implant drill guide and a dental implant superstructure	March, 1998	Poirier
5725378	Artificial tooth assembly	March, 1998	Wang
5733126	Process and device for production of three-dimensional bodies	March, 1998	Andersson et al.
5740267	Radiographic image enhancement comparison and storage requirement reduction system	April, 1998	Echerer et al.
5742700	Quantitative dental caries detection system and method	April, 1998	Yoon et al.
5799100	Computer-assisted method and apparatus for analysis of x-ray images using wavelet transforms	August, 1998	Clarke et al.
5800174	Method using an articulator and computer to represent an individual's bite	September, 1998	Andersson
5823778	Imaging method for fabricating dental devices	October, 1998	Schmitt et al.
5848115	Computed tomography metrology	December, 1998	Little et al.
5857853	Method of manufacturing a prosthesis to be fixed to implants in the jawbone of a patient, and a system for manufacturing such prostheses	January, 1999	van Nifterick et al.
5866058	Method for rapid prototyping of solid models	February, 1999	Batchelder et al.
5879158	Orthodontic bracketing system and method therefor	March, 1999	Doyle et al.
5880961	Appararus and method for creating three-dimensional modeling data from an object	March, 1999	Crump
5880962	Computer aided processing of three-dimensional object and apparatus thereof	March, 1999	Andersson et al.
5882192	Computerized orthodontic diagnosis and appliance dispenser	March, 1999	Bergerson
5934288	Method and apparatus for displaying 3D ultrasound data using three modes of operation	August, 1999	Avila et al.
5957686	Incisor block	September, 1999	Anthony
5964587	Bite control point and a method to form a projection on tooth surface	October, 1999	Sato
5971754	Indirect bonding method and adhesive for orthodontic treatment	October, 1999	Sondhi et al.
5975893	Method and system for incrementally moving teeth	November, 1999	Chishti et al.
6015289	Custom orthodontic appliance forming method and apparatus	January, 2000	Andreiko et al.
6044170	System and method for rapid shape digitizing and adaptive mesh generation	March, 2000	Migdal et al.	382/154
6044309	Three-dimensional machining method and recording medium stored with a three-dimensional machining control program	March, 2000	Honda
6049743	Method of designing dental prosthesis model and computer program product therefor	April, 2000	Baba
6054990	Computer system with handwriting annotation	April, 2000	Tran
6062861	Method and arrangement using an articulator and computer equipment	May, 2000	Andersson
6068482	Method for creation and utilization of individualized 3-dimensional teeth models	May, 2000	Snow
6099314	Method and system for acquiring three-dimensional teeth image	August, 2000	Kopelman et al.
6123544	Method and apparatus for precise bond placement of orthodontic appliances	September, 2000	Cleary
6151404	Anatomical visualization system	November, 2000	Pieper	382/128
6152731	Methods for use in dental articulation	November, 2000	Jordan et al.
6183248	System and method for releasing tooth positioning appliances	February, 2001	Chisti et al.
6190165	Plastic orthodontic appliance having mechanical bonding base and method of making same	February, 2001	Andreiko et al.
6205243	System and method for rapid shape digitizing and adaptive mesh generation	March, 2001	Migdal et al.
6210162	Creating a positive mold of a patient's dentition for use in forming an orthodontic appliance	April, 2001	Chishti et al.
6212442	Compressing device in association with a dental product or other product related to the human body, or tool for this product	April, 2001	Andersson et al.
6217325	Method and system for incrementally moving teeth	April, 2001	Chisti et al.
6217334	Dental scanning method and apparatus	April, 2001	Hultgren
6227850	Teeth viewing system	May, 2001	Chishti et al.	433/24
6244861	Custom orthodontic appliance forming method and apparatus	June, 2001	Andreiko et al.
6250918	Method and apparatus for simulating tooth movement for an orthodontic patient	June, 2001	Sachdeva et al.	433/24
6260000	Three-dimensional shape data processing apparatus	July, 2001	Karasaki et al.	702/155
6300958	Global constrained parameterization of triangulated surfaces	October, 2001	Mallet
6309215	Attachment devices and method for a dental applicance	October, 2001	Phan et al.
6315553	Method and apparatus for site treatment of an orthodontic patient	November, 2001	Sachdeva et al.
6318994	Tooth path treatment plan	November, 2001	Chishti et al.
6322359	Method for use in dental articulation	November, 2001	Jordan et al.
6350119	Selection of orthodontic appliances	February, 2002	Jordan et al.
6350120	Method and apparatus for designing an orthodontic apparatus to provide tooth movement	February, 2002	Sachdeva et al.
6369815	Deformable modeling using generalized curve constraints	April, 2002	Celniker et al.
6371761	Flexible plane for separating teeth models	April, 2002	Cheang et al.
6382975	Manufacturing a dental implant drill guide and a dental implant superstructure	May, 2002	Poirier
6398548	Method and system for incrementally moving teeth	June, 2002	Muhammad et al.
6402707	Method and system for real time intra-orally acquiring and registering three-dimensional measurements and images of intra-oral objects and features	June, 2002	Ernst
6409504	Manipulating a digital dentition model to form models of individual dentition components	June, 2002	Jones et al.
6431870	Method and apparatus for generating a desired three-dimensional digital model of an orthodontic structure	August, 2002	Sachdeva	433/213
6463344	Efficient data representation of teeth model	October, 2002	Pavlovskaia et al.
6463351	Method for producing custom fitted medical devices	October, 2002	Clynch
6471512	Method and apparatus for determining and monitoring orthodontic treatment	October, 2002	Sachdeva et al.
6482298	Apparatus for electroplating alloy films	November, 2002	Bhatnagar
6512994	Method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional digital model of an orthodontic patient	January, 2003	Sachdeva
6514074	Digitally modeling the deformation of gingival	February, 2003	Chishti et al.
6524101	System and methods for varying elastic modulus appliances	February, 2003	Phan et al.
6540512	Method and apparatus for treating an orthodontic patient	April, 2003	Sachdeva et al.
6554611	Method and system for incrementally moving teeth	April, 2003	Chishti et al.
6558162	Healing components for use in taking impressions and methods for making the same	May, 2003	Porter et al.	433/173
6572372	Embedded features and methods of a dental appliance	June, 2003	Phan et al.
6602070	Systems and methods for dental treatment planning	August, 2003	Miller et al.
6629840	Method and system for incrementally moving teeth	October, 2003	Chishti et al.
6633789	Effiicient data representation of teeth model	October, 2003	Nikolskiy et al.
6665570	Efficient data representation of teeth model	December, 2003	Pavloskaia et al.
6688886	System and method for separating three-dimensional models	February, 2004	Hughes et al.
6705863	Attachment devices and methods for a dental appliance	March, 2004	Phan et al.
6722880	Method and system for incrementally moving teeth	April, 2004	Chishti et al.
20020006597	Custom orthodontic appliance forming method and apparatus	January, 2002	Andreiko et al.
20020018981	Arrangement and system for production of dental products and transmission of information	February, 2002	Andersson et al.	433/223
20030009262	Method for improving torque accuracy of a discrete energy tool	January, 2003	Pavlovskaia et al.
20030139834	Efficient data representation of teeth model	July, 2003	Nikolskiy et al.
20030156111	Methods and systems for modeling objects and object image data using medial atoms	August, 2003	Joshi et al.	345/420
20030224311	Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth and method	December, 2003	Cronauer
20040128010	Efficient data representation of teeth model	July, 2004	Palovskaia et al.
20040189633	System and method for defining T-spline and T-NURCC surfaces using local refinements	September, 2004	Sederberg	345/418
20050018885	System and method of anatomical modeling	January, 2005	Chen et al.	382/128
20050055118	Efficient data representation of teeth model	March, 2005	Nikolskiy et al.

AU3031677	May, 1979
AU517102	July, 1981
AU5598894	June, 1994
CA1121955	April, 1982
DE2749802	May, 1978
DE69327661	July, 2000
EP0091876	October, 1983			Device for taking impressions by optical means, particularly for the automatic shaping of dental prostheses.
EP0299490	January, 1989			Method for producing dental prosthesis.
EP0376873	July, 1990			Apparatus for digitizing the contour of a three-dimensional surface, particularly useful for preparing a dental crown.
EP0490848	June, 1992			A procedure and apparatus for producing individually designed, three-dimensional bodies usable as tooth replacements, prostheses, etc.
EP0667753	August, 1995			CUSTOM ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS.
EP0774933	May, 1997			METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CERAMIC TOOTH RESTORATIONS
EP0541500	June, 1998			Scanning device
EP0731673	September, 1998			METHOD AND DEVICE FOR A PRODUCT INTENDED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE HUMAN BODY, AND SCANNING DEVICE FOR A MODEL OF THE PRODUCT
ES463897	January, 1980
FR2369828	June, 1978
FR2652256	March, 1991
GB1550777	August, 1979
JP53058191	May, 1978
JP04028359	January, 1992			MANUFACTURE OF MOUTHPIECE FOR TEETH SET CORRECTION
JP08508174	September, 1996
WO/1990/008512	August, 1990			PROCEDE DE PRODUCTION D'UN APPAREIL D'ORTHODONTIE
WO/1991/004713	April, 1991			DEVICE FOR TRACING A REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTAL PLATE
WO/1994/010935	May, 1994			CUSTOM ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS
WO/1998/032394	July, 1998			DENTAL SCANNING METHOD AND APPARATUS
WO/1998/044865	October, 1998			ARRANGEMENT AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCTION OF DENTAL PRODUCTS AND TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION
WO/1998/058596	December, 1998			METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREMENTALLY MOVING TEETH

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Cabrera, Zoila E.

Proctor, Jason

Townsend and Townsend and Crew

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/241,240, filed Sep. 10, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,570, which was a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/506,419, filed Feb. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,344, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating inside and outside meshes by determining an intersection between a tooth mesh and a cutter mesh; creating a parametric representation of the teeth from the meshes representing the teeth and the inside and outside meshes, the parametric representation comprising exposed tooth surface image data and unexposed tooth portion image data, and further providing compression of the digital data set; displaying the parametric representation of the teeth providing the compressed digital data set so as to provide a high-resolution image of the teeth.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the compressed data in a file.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the compressed data to a remote computer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the compressed data on the remote computer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the compressed data are transmitted over a network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a wide area network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a parametric representation further comprises generating a curve network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising fitting the curve network to the digital data set.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the digital data set comprises receiving data obtained by scanning a physical model of the teeth.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising scanning a physical model of the teeth with a destructive scanning system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising scanning the physical model with a laser scanning system before scanning the model with the destructive scanning system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising scanning physical models of a patient's upper and lower teeth in occlusion with the laser scanning system before scanning with the destructive scanning system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data set includes volume image data of the teeth and the method includes converting the volume image data into a 3D geometric model of the tooth surfaces.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising joining the inside and outside meshes to create a closed surface for each of the individual teeth.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the individual teeth.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving an instruction from a human user to modify the graphical representation of the teeth and modifying the graphical representation in response to the instruction.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising modifying the selected data set in response to the instruction from the user.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering data representing positions of the teeth at selected points along treatment paths to an appliance fabrication system for use in fabricating at least one orthodontic appliance structured to move the teeth toward a final position for the teeth.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the compressed data set as a 3D geometric model representing visible surfaces of the corresponding tooth.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising modifying each 3D model to include hidden surfaces of the corresponding tooth.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the unexposed portion of the tooth comprises an interproximal surface area of a tooth or a tooth root.

23. A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; receiving an input signal from a 3D gyroscopic input device controlled by a human user and using the input signal to alter an orientation of the teeth in the graphical representation; creating a parametric representation of the teeth from the meshes, the parametric representation comprising exposed tooth surface image data and unexposed tooth portion image data, and further providing compression of the digital data set; displaying the computer model of the teeth using a parametric representation; rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the individual teeth; and allowing a human user to select a tooth in the graphical representation and, in response, displaying information about the tooth, the information comprising an interproximal area or a tooth root shape information.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein rendering the graphical representation comprises rendering the teeth at a selected one of multiple viewing orthodontic-specific viewing angles.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a user interface through which a human user can provide text-based comments after viewing the graphical representation of the teeth.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein rendering the graphical representation comprises downloading data to a remote computer at which a human user wishes to view the graphical representation.

27. A computer-implemented method for generating model of a patient's teeth from a first 3D model of the patient's teeth for efficient transmission of patient information, the method comprising: receiving as input the first 3D model comprising a digital data set of meshes representing the patient's teeth; creating from the digital data set of meshes a parametric representation of the digital data set comprising a curve network fitted to the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising exposed tooth surface image data and unexposed tooth portion image data, and further providing a compressed version of the digital data set; and storing the parametric representation in a file for transmission of the parametric representation to a remote computer and displaying of a high-resolution image of the patient's teeth, the high-resolution image comprising tooth interproximal area information or a tooth root shape information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the fitting comprises obtaining a location of a sample point, obtaining a normal or a tangent for the sample point, generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point, and building the curve network from the (u, v) representation.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the fitting comprises selecting a set of sample points from the digital data set, generating tangent values for the sample points to define a curve, and determining the length of the curve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to the field of orthodontics and, more particularly, to computer modeling of teeth.

2. Description of the Background Art

Tooth positioners for finishing orthodontic treatment are described by Kesling in the Am. J. Orthod. Oral. Surg. 31:297-304 (1945) and 32:285-293 (1946). The use of silicone positioners for the comprehensive orthodontic realignment of a patient's teeth is described in Warunek et al. (1989) J. Clin. Orthod. 23:694-700. Clear plastic retainers for finishing and maintaining tooth positions are commercially available from Raintree Essix, Inc., New Orleans, La. 70125, and Tru-Tain Plastics, Rochester, Minn. 55902. The manufacture of orthodontic positioners is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,623; 5,059,118; 5,055,039; 5,035,613; 4,856,991; 4,798,534; and 4,755,139.

Other publications describing the fabrication and use of dental positioners include Kleemann and Janssen (1996) J. Clin. Orthodon. 30:673-680; Cureton (1996) J. Clin. Orthodon. 30:390-395; Chiappone (1980) J. Clin. Orthodon. 14:121-133; Shilliday (1971) Am. J. Orthodontics 59:596-599; Wells (1970) Am. J. Orthodontics 58:351-366; and Cottingham (1969) Am. J. Orthodontics 55:23-31.

Kuroda et al. (1996) Am. J. Orthodontics 110:365-369 describes a method for laser scanning a plaster dental cast to produce a digital image of the cast. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,459.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,895; 5,474,448; 5,454,717; 5,447,432; 5,431,562; 5,395,238; 5,368,478; and 5,139,419, assigned to Ormco Corporation, describe methods for manipulating digital images of teeth for designing orthodontic appliances.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,405 describes a method for digitally imaging a tooth and determining optimum bracket positioning for orthodontic treatment. Laser scanning of a molded tooth to produce a three-dimensional model is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,198. U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,219 describes a method for laser scanning a tooth model and milling a tooth mold. Digital computer manipulation of tooth contours is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,607,305 and 5,587,912. Computerized digital imaging of the jaw is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,342,202 and 5,340,309. Other patents of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,549,476; 5,382,164; 5,273,429; 4,936,862; 3,860,803; 3,660,900; 5,645,421; 5,055,039; 4,798,534; 4,856,991; 5,035,613; 5,059,118; 5,186,623; and 4,755,139.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A computer-implemented method generates a computer model of one or more teeth, by receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of the digital data set; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.

Implementations of the method include one or more of the following. The parametric representation is a compressed version of the digital data set. The parametric representation is stored in a file. The parametric representation is transmitted to a remote computer and displayed on the remote computer. The parametric representation is transmitted over a network, which can be a wide area network such as the Internet. The parametric representation can be a curve network which is fitted to the digital data set. The fitting includes obtaining a location for each sample point; obtaining a normal for the sample point; generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point; and building the curve network from the (u, v) representation. The fitting can include obtaining a location for each sample point; obtaining a tangent for the sample point; generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point; and building the curve network from the (u, v) representation. The method also includes selecting a set of sample points from the digital data set; generating tangent values for the sample points to define a curve; and determining the length of the curve.

Advantages of the system include one or more of the following. The system reduces the amount of data storage space required for storing and communicating teeth treatment information. By utilizing space more efficiently, the system reduces the cost of the system, improves the responsiveness of the system, and allows additional functionality to be implemented.

The system also allows visualization to be used to communicate treatment information in a computer-automated orthodontic treatment plan and appliance. The invention generates a realistic model of the patient's teeth without requiring a user to possess in-depth knowledge of parameters associated with patient dental data compression. Additionally, expertise in 3D software and knowledge of computer architecture is no longer needed to process and translate the captured medical data into a realistic computer model rendering and animation.

The invention allows teeth plan treatment to be generated and communicated in a simple and efficient manner. It also improves the way a treating clinician performs case presentations by allowing the clinician to express his or her treatment plans more clearly and gives a prospective patients an opportunity to visualize the facial changes associated with the proposed treatment. The invention allows multidisciplinary work teams to deal easily and efficiently with the treatment plan. Another major benefit is the ability to visualize and interact with models and processes without the attendant danger, impracticality, or significantly greater expense that would be encountered in the same environment if it were physical. Thus, money and time are saved while the quality of the treatment plan is enhanced.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a patient's jaw and provides a general indication of how teeth may be moved.

FIG. 1B illustrates a single tooth from FIG. 1A and defines how tooth movement distances are determined.

FIG. 1C illustrates the jaw of FIG. 1A together with an incremental position adjustment appliance.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating steps for producing a system of incremental position adjustment appliances.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a 3D model of teeth using triangular meshes.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for communicating teeth related information to a treating professional.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process for generating a curve network representative of a tooth.

FIG. 6A is a flow chart illustrating a first process for generating an M×N network representative of a tooth.

FIG. 6B is a flow chart illustrating a second process for generating an M×N network representative of a tooth.

FIGS. 6C and 6D are exemplary diagrams illustrating the operation of the process of FIG. 6B on a tooth model.

FIG. 7 shows an original high resolution teeth model and various compressed versions of the teeth model using the processes of FIGS. 5-6.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of a system for fabricating appliances.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a data processing system to develop orthodontic treatment plans.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods are provided for modeling teeth in creating a treatment plan. The systems and methods compress data associated with the teeth model to reduce the storage size and transmission time to a treating professional. Based on the treatment plan, the teeth can be incrementally moved using a plurality of discrete appliances, where each appliance successively moves one or more of the patient's teeth by relatively small amounts.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a representative jaw 100 includes sixteen teeth, at least some of which are to be moved from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. To understand how the teeth may be moved, an arbitrary centerline (CL) is drawn through one of the teeth 102 . With reference to this centerline (CL), the teeth may be moved in the orthogonal directions represented by axes 104 , 106 , and 108 (where 104 is the centerline). The centerline may be rotated about the axis 108 (root angulation) and 104 (torque) as indicated by arrows 110 and 112 , respectively. Additionally, the tooth may be rotated about the centerline. Thus, all possible free-form motions of the tooth can be performed.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the magnitude of any tooth movement is defined in terms of the maximum linear translation of any point P on a tooth 102 . Each point P _i will undergo a cumulative translation as that tooth is moved in any of the orthogonal or rotational directions defined in FIG. 1A. That is, while the point will usually follow a non-linear path, there will be a linear distance between any point in the tooth when determined at any two times during the treatment. Thus, an arbitrary point P ₁ may in fact undergo a true side-to-side translation as indicated by arrow d ₁ , while a second arbitrary point P ₂ may travel along an arcuate path, resulting in a final translation d ₂ . In many situations, the maximum permissible movement of a point P _i in any particular tooth is defined as the maximum linear translation of that point P _i on the tooth which undergoes the maximum movement for that tooth in any treatment step.

One tool for a incrementally repositioning the teeth in a patient's jaw is a set of one or more adjustment appliances. Suitable appliances include any of the known positioners, retainers, or other removable appliances which are used for finishing and maintaining teeth positions in connection with conventional orthodontic treatment. As described below, a plurality of such appliances can be worn by a patient successively to achieve gradual tooth repositioning. A particularly advantageous appliance is the appliance 101 , shown in FIG. 1C, which typically comprises a polymeric shell having a cavity shaped to receive and resiliently reposition teeth from one tooth arrangement to another tooth arrangement. The polymeric shell typically fits over all teeth present in the upper or lower jaw. Often, only some of the teeth will be repositioned while others will provide a base or anchor region for holding the repositioning appliance in place as it applies the resilient repositioning force against the tooth or teeth to be repositioned. In complex cases, however, many or most of the teeth will be repositioned at some point during the treatment. In such cases, the teeth which are moved can also serve as a base or anchor region for holding the repositioning appliance. The gums and the palette also serve as an anchor region in some cases, thus allowing all or nearly all of the teeth to be repositioned simultaneously.

The polymeric appliance 101 of FIG. 1C is preferably formed from a thin sheet of a suitable elastomeric polymeric, such as Tru-Tain 0.03 in. thermal forming dental material, marketed by Tru-Tain Plastics, Rochester, Minn. 55902. In many cases, no wires or other means are provided for holding the appliance in place over the teeth. In some cases, however, it is necessary to provide individual attachments on the teeth with corresponding receptacles or apertures in the appliance 100 so that the appliance can apply forces that would not be possible or would be difficult to apply in the absence of such attachments.

FIG. 2 shows a process 200 for producing the incremental position adjustment appliances for subsequent use by a patient to reposition the patient's teeth. As a first step, an initial digital data set (IDDS) representing an initial tooth arrangement is obtained (step 202 ). The IDDS may be obtained in a variety of ways. For example, the patient's teeth may be scanned or imaged using X-rays, three dimensional X-rays, computer-aided tomographic images or data sets, or magnetic resonance images, among others. More details on the contact or non-contact scanners are in commonly-owned and co-pending application Ser. No. 09/169,276, filed Oct. 8, 1998, the content of which is incorporated by reference.

A plaster cast of the patient's teeth is obtained by well known techniques, such as those described in Graber, Orthodontics: Principle and Practice , Second Edition, Saunders, Philadelphia, 1969, pp. 401-415. After the tooth casting is obtained, the casting is digitally scanned by a scanner, such as a non-contact type laser or destructive scanner or a contact-type scanner, to produce the IDDS. The data set produced by the scanner may be presented in any of a variety of digital formats to ensure compatibility with the software used to manipulate images represented by the data. In addition to the 3D image data gathered by laser scanning or destructive scanning the exposed surfaces of the teeth, a user may wish to gather data about hidden features, such as the roots of the patient's teeth and the patient's jaw bones. This information is used to build a more complete model of the patient's dentition and to show with more accuracy and precision how the teeth will respond to treatment. For example, information about the roots allows modeling of all tooth surfaces, instead of just the crowns, which in turn allows simulation of the relationships between the crowns and the roots as they move during treatment. Information about the patient's jaws and gums also enables a more accurate model of tooth movement during treatment. For example, an x-ray of the patient's jaw bones can assist in identifying ankylose teeth, and an MRI can provide information about the density of the patient's gum tissue. Moreover, information about the relationship between the patient's teeth and other cranial features allows accurate alignment of the teeth with respect to the rest of the head at each of the treatment steps. Data about these hidden features may be gathered from many sources, including 2D and 3D x-ray systems, CT scanners, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. Using this data to introduce visually hidden features to the tooth model is described in more detail below.

The IDDS is manipulated using a computer having a suitable graphical user interface (GUI) and software appropriate for viewing and modifying the images. More specific aspects of this process will be described in detail below.

Individual tooth and other components may be segmented or isolated in the model to permit their individual repositioning or removal from the digital model. After segmenting or isolating the components, the user will often reposition the tooth in the model by following a prescription or other written specification provided by the treating professional. Alternatively, the user may reposition one or more teeth based on a visual appearance or based on rules and algorithms programmed into the computer. Once the user is satisfied, the final teeth arrangement is incorporated into a final digital data set (FDDS) (step 204 ).

The FDDS is used to generate appliances that move the teeth in a specified sequence. First, the centers of each tooth model may be aligned using a number of methods. One method is a standard arch. Then, the teeth models are rotated until their roots are in the proper vertical position. Next, the teeth models are rotated around their vertical axis into the proper orientation. The teeth models are then observed from the side, and translated vertically into their proper vertical position. Finally, the two arches are placed together, and the teeth models moved slightly to ensure that the upper and lower arches properly mesh together. The meshing of the upper and lower arches together is visualized using a collision detection process to highlight the contacting points of the teeth.

In step 204 , final positions for the upper and lower teeth in a masticatory system of a patient are determined by generating a computer representation of the masticatory system. An occlusion of the upper and lower teeth is computed from the computer representation; and a functional occlusion is computed based on interactions in the computer representation of the masticatory system. The occlusion may be determined by generating a set of ideal models of the teeth. Each ideal model in the set of ideal models is an abstract model of idealized teeth placement which is customized to the patient's teeth, as discussed below. After applying the ideal model to the computer representation, and the position of the teeth is optimized to fit the ideal model. The ideal model may be specified by one or more arch forms, or may be specified using various features associated with the teeth.

Based on both the IDDS and the FDDS, a plurality of intermediate digital data sets (INTDDSs) are defined to correspond to incrementally adjusted appliances (step 206 ). Finally, a set of incremental position adjustment appliances are produced based on the INTDDs and the FDDS (step 208 ).

FIG. 3 shows one exemplary 3D surface model of the teeth. The surface topology of a 3D model of teeth on a jaw can be modeled as a set of polygons of appropriate sizes and shapes joined at their edges. The set of polygons defining the 3D object is referred to as the “model” or “mesh” for the 3D object. In one embodiment, the polygons are triangles. In this embodiment, a triangle mesh is a piecewise linear surface with triangular faces joined along their edges.

Many types of scan data, such as that acquired by an optical scanning system, provide a 3D geometric model (e.g., a triangular surface mesh) of the teeth when acquired. Other scanning techniques, such as the destructive scanning technique described above, provide data in the form of volume elements (“voxels”) that can be converted into a digital geometric model of the tooth surfaces. In one implementation, a marching cubes algorithm is applied to convert the voxels into a mesh, which can undergo a smoothing operation to reduce the jaggedness on the surfaces of the tooth model caused by the marching cubes conversion. One smoothing operation moves individual triangle vertices to positions representing the averages of connected neighborhood vertices to reduce the angles between triangles in the mesh.

The triangles in FIG. 3 form a connected graph. In this context, two nodes in a graph are connected if there is a sequence of edges that forms a path from one node to the other (ignoring the direction of the edges). Thus defined, connectivity is an equivalence relation on a graph: if triangle A is connected to triangle B and triangle B is connected to triangle C, then triangle A is connected to triangle C. A set of connected nodes is then called a patch. A graph is fully connected if it consists of a single patch. The processes discussed below keep the triangles connected.

Once a 3D model of the tooth surfaces has been constructed, models of the patient's individual teeth can be derived. In one approach, individual teeth and other components are “cut” using a cutting tool to permit individual repositioning or removal of teeth in or from the digital data. After the components are Afreed,≅a prescription or other written specification provided by a treating professional is followed to reposition the teeth. Alternatively, the teeth may be repositioned based on the visual appearance or based on rules and algorithms programmed into the computer. Once an acceptable final arrangement has been created, the final tooth arrangement is incorporated into a final digital data set (FDDS).

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a process for communicating the 3D model of the teeth to the treating professional. Since realistic models have a large volume of data, the storage and transmission of the models can be expensive and time consuming. To reduce transmission problems arising from the large size of the 3D model, the system compresses the data associated with the model. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the compression is done by modeling the teeth meshes as a curve network (step 220 ). Next, the curve network is transmitted to the treating professional (step 222 ). The curve network can be sent over a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. At the receiving end, once the curve network is received, the 3D model is reconstructed from the curve network for the treating professional to analyze (step 224 ).

The curve network generation of step 220 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5. First, the process of FIG. 5 obtains one or more sample points from the meshes of a tooth (step 230 ). Next, the process computes tangent values for the sample points (step 232 ). The sample points are converted into u, v-space (step 234 ). Finally, a grid or curve network is generated that satisfies the points in u, v-space (step 236 ). This is done by surface fitting the curve network to the original data.

In one embodiment of FIG. 5, data points are separated into groups. A U-curve with a U-knot vector is interpolated through each separate group. Next, one or more V-curves are generated by moving along each of the U-curves for a given knot value. The V-curve is formed by interpolating through these data points. The V-curves intersect the U-curves at points of constant u. A new set of U-curves that are constant in v is obtained by connecting points of constant v along the V-curves. A network of curves and its relationship to the original data points can then be generated. The only curves are drawn are either curves of constant u or constant v, and so the regions marked out by them are rectangular in u, v-space and can be represented at patches which also mark out rectangular domains in u, v-space. A patch representation is generated from the network to arrive at a full surface description. More details on the surface fitting are discussed in pages 101-110 of Alan Watt and Mark Watt, Advanced Animation and Rendering Techniques (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Menlo Park, Calif.).

FIG. 6A shows a flowchart for a process to create an M×N curve network associated with a tooth. First, the process determines M, the number of slices corresponding to meridian lines crossing the tooth (step 240 ). Next, the process calculates tangent values for a plurality of planes intersecting with the tooth to define a curve associated with one side of a slice (step 242 ). One or more sample points and sample tangent values for the sample points are selected (step 244 ) and the length of the curve is computed (step 246 ). Next, the process of FIG. 6 divides the length of the curve the N and generates points associated with the M×N curve network (step 248 ).

Each tooth is modeled as though it were a deformed ball. The curve network is a network of M meridian lines and N parallel lines. For each meridian line, a plane is selected to contain the meridian line. A series of points representing an intersection between the plane and the triangle mesh modeling a tooth is determined. The series of points represent a curve whose length is then determined. The length of the meridian is divided by N. If M is 20 and N is 20, a 20×20 grid of points is generated, each point being represented in 3-D. In this manner, M×N 3D points can be transmitted in place of the voluminous mesh representation of the teeth. To further reduce the size of the file, the coordinates of each point are stored using integer values rather than floating point values.

Alternatively, a second process 300 for fitting a curve network to a tooth is shown in FIG. 6B, and exemplary diagrams illustrating the operation of the process 300 on a tooth model are shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D. In FIG. 6B, during the process of creating a separate mesh for each tooth, a tooth basis is created (step 301 ). The tooth basis has its origin inside the tooth such as in the middle of the tooth. For reference, the z-axis points towards an occlusion surface, the y-axis points to a labial tooth surface, and the x-axis points to a mesial direction.

Next, the process 300 selects the number of meridians M. M can range between 20-40. Also, the process 300 selects the number of points on each meridian N. N is typically ranges between ⅔ M to M. A set of M half planes 0, . . . , (M−1) is created: each half plane goes through the tooth z-axis, and the plane i forms an angle (2*PI/M)*i with the tooth x-axis (step 302 ). Exemplary half planes are shown in FIG. 6C.

For each half plane, an intersection with the tooth mesh surface is determined (step 304 . This intersection is a polyline that goes from the lower intersection of z-axis with the tooth surface to their upper intersection (points A and B). This line is called a meridian line.

For each meridian line, a length L is determined and S is determined as a function of L/(N−1) (step 306 ). From a starting point, the process 300 proceeds along the meridian line and find points p 0 =A, p 1 , . . . , p[N−1]=B such that the point p[n+1] is at the distance S from p[n] along the meridian. Eventually, an M*N list of points in 3D space is generated and saved (step 308 ). The points can be saved as short integer values rather than floating point values.

The data is saved and sent to a treating professional. To reconstruct a surface, the grid of M by N points is used to generate a surface that closely resembles a tooth. Although 20 is used in one embodiment, other values for M or N can be 30 or 40.

To reconstruct a surface from a M*N grid of points, a Hermit spline F is specified that maps a rectangle [0, M]*[0, N] in (u, v) parameter plane into 3D space. The Hermit spline F is a smooth continued function on the [0, M]*[0, N] rectangle. When restricted to any [m, m+1]*[n, n+1] unit square, the spline is a bicubic 3D function. The restriction of F onto [m, m+1]*[n, n+1] square is denoted by f (omitting the indices (m, n) that should signify that functions f are different on different squares).

To determine a Hermit spline, 3D values F, two derivatives dF/du, dF/dv, and the second mixed derivative d2F/dudv in each nod point (m, n) are specified. Thus for each bicubic function f on [m, m+1]*[n, n+1] square, 3D values f, two derivatives df/du, df/dv, and the second mixed derivative d2f/dudv are generated for the four square corners (m, n), (m+1, n), (m, n+1), (m+1, n+1). A unique 3D bicubic function is completely determined by those values. The bicubic functions on the next squares are smoothly connected because the values and derivatives are the same on the common side.

The 3D values F, two derivatives dF/du, dF/dv, and the second mixed derivative d2F/dudv in the nod points (m, n) are specified as follows:

• • F(m, n)=(m, n)-th grid point P(m, n);
  • dF/du(m, n)=0.5*(P(m+1, n)−P(m−1, n));
  • dF/dv(m, n)=0.5*(P(m, n+1)−P(m, n−1));
  • d2F/dudv(m, n)=0.

After the Hermit spline on the rectangle [0, M]*[0, N] is determined, its values in the more dense grid of points K*L are computed to derive a K*L grid of 3D points. Each of the four points (k, l), (k+1, k), (k, l+1), (k+1, l+1) are associated with two triangles: {(k, l), (k+1, k), (k, l+1)} and {(k, l+1), (k+1, l+1), (k, l)}. In this way, 2*K*L triangles are generated that are then rendered as a reconstructed tooth.

FIG. 7 shows an original high resolution model 250 of a group of lower teeth and various compressed models of the high resolution model of the teeth. The original high resolution model requires 2.373 megabytes of data. In comparison, a 20×20 model 252 requires 93 kilobytes, a 30×30 model 254 requires 135 kilobytes, and a 40×40 model 256 requires 193 kilobytes. The reduction in the size of the file reduces the storage as well as transmission requirements while maintaining good quality. At least one orthodontist had noted that the 30×30 model is, for his application, as good as the original high resolution model 250 in developing a treatment plan.

Although the above parametric techniques can be used to compress the storage size of a mesh model of a teeth, other techniques can be used. In another embodiment, decimation operations can be applied to the mesh of teeth to eliminate data points, which improves processing speed. After the smoothing and decimation operation have been performed, an error value is calculated based on the differences between the resulting mesh and the original mesh or the original data, and the error is compared to an acceptable threshold value. The smoothing and decimation operations are applied to the mesh once again if the error does not exceed the acceptable value. The last set of mesh data that satisfies the threshold is stored as the tooth model.

Additionally, the mesh model can be simplified by removing unwanted or unnecessary sections of the model to increase data processing speed and enhance the visual display. Unnecessary sections include those not needed for creation of the tooth repositioning appliance. The removal of these unwanted sections reduces the complexity and size of the digital data set, thus accelerating manipulations of the data set and other operations. After the user instructs the software to erase unwanted sections, all triangles within the box set by the user are removed and the border triangles are modified to leave a smooth, linear border. The software deletes all of the triangles within the box and clips all triangles which cross the border of the box. This requires generating new vertices on the border of the box. The holes created in the model at the faces of the box are retriangulated and closed using the newly created vertices.

In alternative embodiments, the computer automatically simplifies the digital model by performing the user-oriented functions described above. The computer applies a knowledge of orthodontic relevance to determine which portions of the digital model are unnecessary for image manipulation.

In another embodiment, data associated with the 3D model includes features can be compressed based on observed characteristics of the tooth surfaces. For example, the system can use the curvature of a particular molar between the tips of the cusps and the gumline to predict the shape of the roots for that molar. Models of typical root and crown shapes also can be used to provide predict the shape of the tooth. The information used to arrive at the predicted shapes can be used in lieu of the original data, thus effecting data compression.

Other feature detection techniques use databases of known cases or statistical information against which a particular 3D image is matched using conventional image pattern matching and data fitting techniques. One such technique, known as “Maximum a posteriori” (MAP), uses prior images to model pixel values corresponding to distinct object types (classes) as independent random variables with normal (Gaussian) distributions whose parameters (mean and variance) are selected empirically. For each class, a histogram profile is created based on a Gaussian distribution with the specified mean and variance. The prior images supply for each pixel and each class the probability that the pixel belongs to the class, a measure which reflects the relative frequency of each class. Applying Bayes' Rule to each class, the pixel values in the input image are scaled according to the prior probabilities, then by the distribution function. The result is a posterior probability that each pixel belongs to each class. The Maximum a posteriori (MAP) approach then selects for each pixel the class with the highest posterior probability.

Once downloaded to a remote workstation, a treating clinician is able to view a patient's treatment plan and alter or comment on the plan. The client viewer application is implemented in a computer program installed locally on a client computer at the clinician's site. In one implementation, the viewer program downloads a data file from a remote host, such as a file transfer protocol (FTP) server maintained by the treatment plan designer, which can be accessed either through direct connection or through a computer network, such as the World Wide Web. The viewer program uses the downloaded file to present the treatment plan graphically to the clinician. The viewer program also can be used by the treatment plan designer at the host site to view images of a patient's teeth.

3-D images of various orthodontic views can then be rendered after the compressed data of the teeth has been received. In this process, an origin point, or “look from” point associated with a camera view is generated. Next, a “look at” point or a focus point associated with the camera view is determined. In this system, the line from LookFromPoint to LookAtPoint defines the direction the camera is shooting at. Additionally, a camera Z vector, or up vector, is determined.

Pseudo code for generating various orthodontic views is shown below. With reference to the pseudo code, the code defines a boundingbox of one mold (2 arches) which is the smallest cube containing the molds geometry. Other settings associated with the bounding box include:

• • Z_Axis: point from lower to upper,
  • Y_Axis: point from inside mouse to front teeth (incisors)
  • X_Axis: point from center to left.
  • FieldOfView: is the open angle, it corresponding to lens
  • HalfFieldOfView: FieldOfView*0.5
  • MoldCenter: Center of the BoundingBox
  • X_Length: BoundingBox X dimension
  • Y_Length: BoundingBox X dimension
  • Z_Length: BoundingBox X dimension
  • X_MIN: minimum X value of the BoundingBox i.e. right most surface cube X value.
  • X_MAX: maximum X value of the BoundingBox
  • Y_MIN: minimum Y value of the BoundingBox
  • Y_MAX: maximum Y value of the BoundingBox
  • Z_MIN: minimum Z value of the BoundingBox
  • Z_MAX: maximum Z value of the BoundingBox

RIGHT BUCCAL OVERJET
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = 0.5 * MoldCenter.X + 0.5 *
	X_Max + 0.25 * MAX(Y_Length,
	Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
	Y = MoldCenter.Y
	Z = MoldCenter.Z − 0.25 *
	MAX(Y_Length, Z_Length)/
	tan(HalfFieldOfView);
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X + 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
ANTERIOR OVERJET
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X;
	Y = 0.5 * MoldCenter.Y + 0.5 *
	Y_Max + 0.25 * MAX(X_Length,
	Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
	Z = MoldCenter.Z − 0.25 *
	MAX(X_Length, Z_Length)/
	tan(HalfFieldOfView);
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y + 0.25 * Y_Length;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
LEFT BUCCAL OVERJET
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = 0.5 * MoldCenter.X + 0.5 *
	X_Min − 0.25 * MAX(Y_Length,
	Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z − 0.25 *
	MAX(Y_Length, Z_Length)/
	tan(HalfFieldOfView);
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X − 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
LEFT DISTAL_MOLAR
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X − 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = Y_Min − 0.25 * MAX(X_Length,
	Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X − 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
LEFT LINGUAL
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X + 0.125 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X − 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
LINGUAL INCISOR
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y + 0.25 * Y_Length;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
RIGHT LINGUAL
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X + 0.125 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X + 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;
RIGHT DISTAL MOLAR
CameraLookFromPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X + 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = Y_MIN − 0.25 * MAX(X_Length,
	Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraLookAtPoint:	X = MoldCenter.X + 0.25 * X_Length;
	Y = MoldCenter.Y;
	Z = MoldCenter.Z;
CameraUpVector:	ZAxis;

Once the intermediate and final data sets have been created and reviewed by an orthodontist or suitably trained person, the appliances may be fabricated as illustrated in FIG. 8. Common fabrication methods employ a rapid prototyping device 201 such as a stereolithography machine. A particularly suitable rapid prototyping machine is Model SLA-250/50 available from 3D System, Valencia, Calif. The rapid prototyping machine 201 selectively hardens a liquid or other non-hardened resin into a three-dimensional structure which can be separated from the remaining non-hardened resin, washed, and used either directly as the appliance or indirectly as a mold for producing the appliance. The prototyping machine 201 receives the individual digital data sets and produces one structure corresponding to each of the desired appliances. Generally, because the rapid prototyping machine 201 may utilize a resin having non-optimum mechanical properties and which may not be generally acceptable for patient use, the prototyping machine typically is used to produce molds which are, in effect, positive tooth models of each successive stage of the treatment. After the positive models are prepared, a conventional pressure or vacuum molding machine is used to produce the appliances from a more suitable material, such as 0.03 inch thermal forming dental material, available from Tru-Tain Plastics, Rochester, Minn. 55902. Suitable pressure molding equipment is available under the trade name BIOSTAR from Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd., Tonawanda, N.Y. 14150. The molding machine 251 produces each of the appliances directly from the positive tooth model and the desired material. Suitable vacuum molding machines are available from Raintree Essix, Inc.

After production, the appliances can be supplied to the treating professional all at one time. The appliances are marked in some manner, typically by sequential numbering directly on the appliances or on tags, pouches, or other items which are affixed to or which enclose each appliance, to indicate their order of use. Optionally, written instructions may accompany the system which set forth that the patient is to wear the individual appliances in the order marked on the appliances or elsewhere in the packaging. Use of the appliances in such a manner will reposition the patient's teeth progressively toward the final tooth arrangement.

Because a patient's teeth may respond differently than originally expected, the treating clinician may wish to evaluate the patient's progress during the course of treatment. The system can also do this automatically, starting from the newly-measured in-course dentition. If the patient's teeth do not progress as planned, the clinician can revise the treatment plan as necessary to bring the patient's treatment back on course or to design an alternative treatment plan. The clinician may provide comments, oral or written, for use in revising the treatment plan. The clinician also can form another set of plaster castings of the patient's teeth for digital imaging and manipulation. The clinician may wish to limit initial aligner production to only a few aligners, delaying production on subsequent aligners until the patient's progress has been evaluated.

FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a data processing system 311 that may be used to develop orthodontic treatment plans. The data processing system 311 typically includes at least one processor 303 which communicates with a number of peripheral devices via bus subsystem 305 . These peripheral devices typically include a storage subsystem 307 (memory subsystem 309 and file storage subsystem 314 ), a set of user interface input and output devices 318 , and an interface to outside networks 316 , including the public switched telephone network. This interface is shown schematically as “Modems and Network Interface” block 316 , and is coupled to corresponding interface devices in other data processing systems via communication network interface 324 . Data processing system 311 could be a terminal or a low-end personal computer or a high-end personal computer, workstation or mainframe.

The user interface input devices typically include a keyboard and may further include a pointing device and a scanner. The pointing device may be an indirect pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, touchpad, or graphics tablet, or a direct pointing device such as a touchscreen incorporated into the display, or a three dimensional pointing devi