Patent ID: 7551760

Claim:
A method for constructing a 3-D model incorporating 3-D scan image data of a maxillar dental arch and of an opposing mandibular dental arch, said method comprising: disposing a number of recognition features adjacent the surfaces of each of the maxillar and mandibular dental arches, the recognition features permitting determination of the respective positions and orientations of said dental arches; individually 3-dimensionally scanning said dental arches to obtain 3-D image data including data representing topographical features of said dental arches and the recognition features associated with each of said dental arches; 3-dimensionally scanning said dental arches while said dental arches are in an occlusal relationship to obtain 3-D image data including data representing the recognition features associated with each of said dental arches; processing said 3-D image data; and constructing a 3-D model including a maxillar dental arch representation aligned with a mandibular dental arch representation.