Dentistry – Orthodontics – Method of positioning or aligning teeth
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-28
2004-02-24
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Method of positioning or aligning teeth
Reexamination Certificate
active
06695613
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally in the field of orthodontics and provides a method, system and device for placing an orthodontic element e.g. a bracket on the surface of a tooth of an individual undergoing orthodontic treatment or for marking the spot on a tooth where such an element should be placed.
One of the most critical steps in an orthodontic treatment is the proper placement of brackets on surfaces of teeth of treated individuals. The location of the bracket on the tooth as well as its orientation is a critical factor in determining the direction of movement of the teeth during the treatment. In current orthodontic practice, the orthodontist decides on a general scheme of placing the brackets on the teeth and then attaches each of them to the surface of a tooth, in an exact location and orientation decided at the time of such placing. Preparatory to an orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist typically prepares a plaster model of the teeth of the treated individual and on the basis of such model, the general scheme of placement of the brackets can be decided. However, there is currently no available method which will allow to position the bracket correctly on a tooth surface, based on a determination made previously, e.g. based on a model.
In orthodontic treatment, the brackets are typically placed on the buccal surface of the teeth. At times, it is desired both from a treatment perspective as well as for reasons of external appearance of the individual, to place the brackets on the lingual surface of the teeth. However, by current methods it is difficult to properly position the brackets on the lingual surfaces, particularly in view of difficulties in monitoring the position during attachment of the brackets.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, system and device for positioning of an orthodontic element on a surface of a tooth, or for marking the position, where an element has to be subsequently placed. The positioning may be based on a prior determination of the proper position of the element on a tooth.
The term “position” is used herein to denote either the element's location on the surface of a tooth, its orientation or a combination of location and orientation. The term “positioning” will be used to denote the act of placing the bracket on the surface of a tooth in a desired position. The term “element” is used herein to denote a device, which is fixed on to a tooth within the framework of an orthodontic treatment, e.g. a bracket.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for positioning and fixing an orthodontic element on a surface of a tooth, comprising:
(a) bringing the element into proximity of the tooth while continuously capturing an image of at least the tooth or of the element; and an image of both, once the tooth and the element are proximal to one another;
(b) transmitting the image or its representation to a display for displaying a real-life image of the captured image or representation together with indicators providing guidance information on intended position of the orthodontic element on the tooth's surface;
(c) positioning the element on a tooth's surface according to said indicators such that the element's position coincides with the intended position; and
(d) fixing the element onto the tooth.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for marking an intended position on a tooth where an orthodontic element is to be placed and fixed, the method comprising:
(a) providing a marking device with a marking member for making a visible mark on a tooth's surface;
(b) manipulating said device so as to bring said member into proximity of the tooth's surface while continuously capturing an image of at least the tooth or of the marking member, and of both once the tooth and the marking member are proximal to one another;
(c) transmitting the image or a representation thereof to a display displaying said image or representation together with indicators providing guidance information on the intended position of the orthodontic element;
(d) fixing the position of the marking member on the tooth's surface according to said indicators, such that the marking member's position coincides with the intended position of the orthodontic element; and
(e) applying a mark on the tooth's surface at said position.
The marking device may be a device adapted to attach a sticker to mark the position where the orthodontic element is to be fixed; adapted to make a color mark on the tooth, e.g. by stamping, so as to mark said position; etc. The marked position of the element can then serve as guidance for replacement of an orthodontic element on the surface of a tooth.
In the following description the captured image or its representation which is displayed on the screen will be referred to at times as “real-life image”. As will be explained further below, coincidental with the real-life image, the display may also show a “virtual image” of the same object (the orthodontic element or one or more teeth) seen in the real-life image.
The indicators providing the guidance information on the screen may be represented in a number of ways. For example, the indicators may consist of a display of vectors defining the direction for s change of position or of a change of orientation needed in order to yield a position of the element on a surface of a tooth which was determined to be that which will yield optimal results in the orthodontic treatment (such position will also be referred to herein at times as “proper position”). By another example, the guidance information may be provided in the form of a target sign, e.g., an “X” or a “+” marking the point of proper position of the orthodontic element superimposed on a display real-life image. By a further example, the guidance information may be provided as a virtual image of objects corresponding to those of the real-life image, e.g. a graphic representation of boundaries of objects in the image (of the teeth or of the orthodontic element) which are presented such that once the real-life objects are made to overlap the responding object of the virtual image, proper position is attained. As will be understood, the above are mere examples and a variety of other graphic representations providing guidance information may also be used.
The real-life image and the guidance information are superimposed together on display. In order to yield a proper position of the orthodontic treatment, the element is moved or rotated, based on the guidance information, until its real-life image displayed on the screen yields a correct position as determined on the basis of the indicators on the screen. For example, the proper position of an orthodontic bracket may be represented as a virtual image, e.g. boundaries of a bracket, superimposed on the real-life image of a tooth on which the bracket is to be fixed, and the bracket may then be manipulated until the boundaries of its real-life image overlap those of the virtual image. Alternatively, the real-life image may be centered on the orthodontic element, e.g. the bracket, such that the orthodontic element is always in a fixed position on the screen. In such latter case, a virtual image of at least one tooth may be displayed and the bracket may then be repositioned and/or rotated until the at least one tooth of the real-life image overlaps that of the virtual image, thus attaining the proper position.
By a further alternative, the displayed guidance information indicators, consist of a virtual image of both at least one tooth and of the orthodontic element in a proper position of the latter. The user may then first be required to adjust the image capturing unit such that the displayed virtual image of the at least one tooth will overlap the corresponding at least one tooth of the real-life image, and then manipulate the orthodontic element until its position coincides with that of the virtual
Kopelman Avi
Nissenbaum Baruch
Taub Eldad
Berkowitz Marvin C.
Cadent Ltd.
Heiman Lee C.
Nath & Associates PLLC
Wilson John J.
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