A system for use in preparing a dental prosthesis comprises a signal generator for generating an electrical signal encoding geometric specifications of a dental prosthesis, the specifications including dimensions and shape of a tooth preparation at a dental site at which the prosthesis is to be affixed and configuration of the prosthesis. The system further comprises a robot mechanism for placing a first mold component and a second mold component, selected in accordance with the electrical signal, in predetermined relative positions to form a mold cavity, the first mold component corresponding in shape and dimensions to the tooth preparation. The system also comprises a filling device, a furnace and a computer. The filling device serves to introduce into the mold cavity a quantity of a fluidic solidifiable dental material such as a liquid or liquifiable precious metal or alloy or composite material. The metal or alloy may be in any of a number of equivalent forms, for example, powder, pellets or ingots. The robot mechanism and the filling device are at least partially disposed inside the furnace. The computer is operatively connected to the robot mechanism and the filling device for controlling and sequencing the operation thereof.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of applications Ser. No. 507,162 filed Apr. 10, 1990 and Ser. No. 526,512 filed May 21, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,049.
A method for fabricating a dental restoration is described which comprises the steps of obtaining a dental impression of a patient using dental impression material, filling the cavity defining the impression with a filler material distinguishable from the dental material defining the impression and allowing the materials to harden to a solid block, successively removing from the block thin layers and imaging each then remaining surface of the block after each successive layer is removed to define a contour of the filler material for each layer removed, each contour corresponding to a contour of the teeth, gums and palate of the patient at a corresponding known depth of the block, generating a three dimensional computer model of the teeth, gums and palate of the patient using the contours, and converting the model to a stereolithography file for producing a castable pattern of the model or machining a restoration corresponding to the model.
A dental instrument assembly includes a motion-tracking hexapod including a plurality of telescoping members each connected at one end to a first frame and at an opposite end to a second frame and further including a plurality of linear transducers each operatively coupled to a respective one of the telescoping members for generating a signal indicative of a degree of extension of the respective one of the telescoping members. A generally U-shaped bracket is connected to the first frame for mounting the first frame to a row of teeth in a patient's mouth, and a dental instrument or probe is mounted to the second frame. A computer connected to the transducers is connected to other computers via the Internet for enabling dental data exchange.
An automated method for forming a dental coping which comprises: scanning a three dimensional image of the die of the tooth or teeth to be restored; digitizing the scanned three dimensional image into digital information, storing the digital information in a computer; feeding the digital information from the computer into a computerized numerical control cutting machine; cutting out a section of material of metallic composition into a two dimensional configuration representing a two dimensional lay out of the scanned three dimensional image, adapting the cut out section of material over the die so that the material covers the die surface in close engagement therewith to form a single three dimensional structure having the shape of the die and heat treating the structure into a coping conforming in shape to the die.
A numerical control apparatus allows for the machining of a workpiece based on a three-dimensional work shape which is inputted. The shape of the workpiece is set and the shape of the workpiece and three-dimensional work shape determine the work region to be extracted. The extracted work region is divided into work regions of spot work, contour work, and region work by the characteristics of the work. The work order is set to determine the order in which the divided work regions are to be machined. The work information for each work region is then inputted and command data used in moving a tool is generated from the work order data and the work information.
A method of manufacturing a dental prosthesis includes the steps of obtaining shape data of a portion to be prosthetically treated and shape data of a surface condition after it is prosthetically treated, obtaining shape data of a prosthesis from the two shape data sets, obtaining contour data of a portion of the prosthesis contacting a tissue of a living body and appearing outward, and converting the shape data of the prosthesis into a cutting data assuming that a connecting rib is to be connected to the prosthesis at a region appearing outward on the shape data of the prosthesis and substantially not contained in the contour data. Also, the present invention provides a method of placing and object and a measuring device.
