Patent ID: 7819662
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: A61C,B33Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for constructing a dental appliance having multiple components, the method comprising: generating a first electronic model of a first dental component of the dental appliance; rapid prototyping a first wax model of the first dental component based on the first electronic model of the first dental component; casting a first fabricated first dental component using the first wax model; obtaining a second electronic model representing the first fabricated dental component and a preparation site on which the first fabricated dental component is mounted; wherein obtaining the second electronic model comprises: mounting the first fabricated dental component to a study cast representing a patient dentition including the preparation site; scanning the study cast and the first fabricated dental component to obtain three-dimensional data; and generating the second electronic model based on the three-dimensional data; generating a third electronic model of a second dental component of the dental appliance, the third electronic model being designed to fit with the second electronic model; wherein the method of generating the third electronic model of the second dental component further comprises superimposing the third electronic model over the second electronic model; rapid prototyping a second wax model of the second dental component based on the third electronic model of the second dental component; and pressing a second fabricated dental component onto the first fabricated dental component using the second wax model.