US7581953B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive dental restorative network
Assignee: Shade Analyzing Tech Inc
•
Filing: 2004-07-16
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Granted: 2009-09-01
•
Expires: 2024-07-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a computer readable medium that includes one or more programs for carrying out a method for restoration of a patient's tooth. The method includes the steps of generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth; providing a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the dental needs of the patient; and forwarding the electronic image and preliminary treatment plan to a dental laboratory so that technician can evaluate the image and treatment plan and in a manner such that the technician and dentist can review and discuss the preliminary treatment plan.
Inventors
- 👤 Maryann Lehmann
- 👤 Curtis A. Vock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; C; C07; C07K; C07K14/00; C07K14/435; C07K14/705; C07K16/00; C07K16/18; G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/46; G01J3/462; G01J3/463; G01J3/50; G01J3/508; G16; G16H; G16H30/00; G16H30/20; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; G16H50/00; G16H50/50; G16H70/00; G16H70/20; G16H80/00; A01; A01K; A01K2217/00; A01K2217/05; G16H10/00; G16H10/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/971
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An interactive dental restoration method for restoration of a patient's tooth which comprises: generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth or tooth preparation in a dentist's office; displaying requests for entering information to develop a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the patient's dental restoration wherein one or more current requests are determined at least in part in dependence on the dentist's responses to prior requests; storing dental data comprising the electronic image and the preliminary treatment plan on a server; presenting at a dental laboratory the stored image and the preliminary treatment plan for approval or for suggestions of further or alternative restorative options; and storing on the server a final treatment plan incorporating any needed modifications to the preliminary treatment plan that have been suggested by the dental laboratory and approved by the dentist, wherein such modifications are developed while the dentist and dental laboratory simultaneously have access to the server using a communication network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An interactive dental restoration method for restoration of a patient's tooth which comprises: generating an electronic image of a patient's tooth or tooth preparation in a dentist's office; displaying requests for entering information to develop a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the patient's dental restoration wherein one or more current requests are determined at least in part in dependence on the dentist's responses to prior requests; storing dental data comprising the electronic image and the preliminary treatment plan on a server; presenting at a dental laboratory the stored image and the preliminary treatment plan for approval or for suggestions of further or alternative restorative options; and storing on the server a final treatment plan incorporating any needed modifications to the preliminary treatment plan that have been suggested by the dental laboratory and approved by the dentist, wherein such modifications are developed while the dentist and dental laboratory simultaneously have access to the server using a communication network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the dental data comprises one or more of an x-ray of a patient's tooth, and a direct color video image of a patient's tooth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the dentist and the laboratory accesses the dental data via a client application comprising a web browser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises providing authorization to the dentist and laboratory so that they can access the dental data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the dentist and laboratory interact and consult in real time by means of the communication network to finalize the final treatment plan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises generating the electronic image in color and including it as part of the preliminary treatment plan; and finalizing the preliminary treatment plan during discussions between dentist and laboratory technician while they each have simultaneous access to the preliminary treatment plan stored on the server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the preliminary treatment plan comprises a restoration profile with specifications for restoration materials to be used and preparations to be performed and also design criteria for preparation of a dental prosthesis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to the dentist information concerning dental materials and designs for use of the materials, the information having been retrieved from dental information databases in dependence, at least in part, on the treatment plan and restoration profile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising scanning preparations for the dental restoration so that compliance with the treatment plan can be confirmed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying a final dental prosthesis manufactured by the laboratory by obtaining digital images of the final prosthesis and comparing with previously-obtained images of the patient's teeth.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
185 words
A system accessible by a dentist and a dental laboratory for interactively assisting the dentist with a dental restoration for a patient, the system comprising: one or more server computers; data storage; and communications linking the dentist's office and the dental laboratory, wherein the server computers are configured by software instructions to perform steps comprising: capturing an electronic image of a patient's tooth or tooth preparation in a dentist's office; displaying to the dentist requests for entering information to develop a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the patient's dental restoration wherein one or more current requests are determined at least in part in dependence on responses to prior requests; storing dental data comprising the electronic image and the preliminary treatment plan on a server; presenting at a dental laboratory the stored image and the preliminary treatment plan for approval or for suggestions of further or alternative restorative options; and storing a final treatment plan incorporating the preliminary treatment plan and any needed modifications, wherein, during development of the final treatment plan, the dentist and dental laboratory simultaneously have access to the server using the communications.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
185 words
A system accessible by a dentist and a dental laboratory for interactively assisting the dentist with a dental restoration for a patient, the system comprising: one or more server computers; data storage; and communications linking the dentist's office and the dental laboratory, wherein the server computers are configured by software instructions to perform steps comprising: capturing an electronic image of a patient's tooth or tooth preparation in a dentist's office; displaying to the dentist requests for entering information to develop a preliminary treatment plan for addressing the patient's dental restoration wherein one or more current requests are determined at least in part in dependence on responses to prior requests; storing dental data comprising the electronic image and the preliminary treatment plan on a server; presenting at a dental laboratory the stored image and the preliminary treatment plan for approval or for suggestions of further or alternative restorative options; and storing a final treatment plan incorporating the preliminary treatment plan and any needed modifications, wherein, during development of the final treatment plan, the dentist and dental laboratory simultaneously have access to the server using the communications.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 11 wherein at least one server is located at the dentist's office, or at the laboratory, or at both locations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising an intraoral camera for obtaining a digital image of a patient's tooth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the dentist and laboratory are located remotely from one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method system of claim 11 wherein the communications comprises the Internet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the stored preliminary treatment plan comprises a restoration profile with specifications for restoration materials to be used and patient preparation to be performed and also design criteria for preparation of a dental prosthesis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the server computers further provide to the dentist information concerning dental materials and designs for use of the materials, the information having been retrieved from dental information databases in dependence, at least in part, on the treatment plan and restoration profile.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the stored dental data further comprises images of the preparation of the patient for the dental restoration so that compliance with the treatment plan can be confirmed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the stored dental data further comprises images of a dental prosthesis after manufacture by the dental laboratory for comparison with previously-obtained images of the patient's teeth.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-08-31 | 2013-03-02 | 2013-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-08-31 | 2017-03-02 | 2017-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-08-31 | 2021-03-02 | 2021-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |