Patent ID: 8366445

Claim:
A method for forming a dental mold, the method comprising: (a) scanning an existing dental structure to generate a three-dimensional first digital model of the existing dental structure; (b) modifying the first digital model of the existing dental structure to generate a three-dimensional second digital model of a planned dental structure, the planned dental structure having spatial surface contours different from those of the existing dental structure; (c) generating a three-dimensional third digital model corresponding to a negative of the second digital model, wherein (i) the third digital model comprises a solid volume corresponding to walls of the eventual dental mold, and (ii) the solid volume defines a void volume corresponding to the planned dental structure; (d) digitally sectioning the solid volume of the third digital model into two or more sub-volumes, thereby defining at least one buccal model portion of the third digital model and at least one lingual model portion of the third digital model such that the buccal model portion and the lingual model portion share at least one common interfacial surface in the third digital model; and (e) creating a dental mold comprising at least one buccal mold portion and at least one lingual mold portion, wherein (i) the buccal mold portion has a shape corresponding to the buccal model portion; (ii) the lingual mold portion has a shape corresponding to the lingual model portion; (iii) the buccal mold portion and the lingual mold portion are separate structures that together define a void volume corresponding to the planned dental structure when assembled; and (iv) the buccal and mold portions are shaped to engage existing dental structure and adjacent gum tissue.