Digital Dentistry: AI and Simulation based workflow for automated clear aligner production

一种新的牙齿矫正方法是使用透明的薄塑料矫正器，使用者可以在牙齿和牙龈上滑动，这种矫正器已经取代了更传统的金属（所谓的火车轨道）矫正器。透明牙齿矫正器的一些优点是佩戴时不太显眼，可以取下，并且更容易保持清洁。清洁矫正器目前估计占全球正畸（牙齿矫正）手术的8%，收入超过20亿美元。清洁牙齿矫正器的设计依赖于使用扫描技术来生成患者牙齿的计算机模型，然后将其用作定制治疗计划的基础，该计划由一系列清洁牙齿矫正器组成，这些牙齿矫正器在制作牙齿矫正器的过程中使用3D打印逐步拉直牙齿。这种制定治疗计划的方法目前很麻烦，需要处方正畸医生和经过专门培训的牙科技术人员的大量投入，这些技术人员在计算机上交互式地执行详细的建模步骤。这是一个痛苦而繁重的过程，对程序的成本有很大的贡献。目前的建议是开发一种治疗计划的计算机工作流程，从牙科扫描一直到患者特定校准器的设计，这在很大程度上是自动化的，从而简化和简化了过程，从而大大降低了成本。这在一定程度上可以通过利用图像处理领域的人工智能（AI）技术的最新进展，以及利用计算机（基于物理的）模拟技术来改进治疗计划来实现。这个工业研究项目将由Vitaware有限公司的一个团队负责，该团队由工程师、计算机科学家和正畸医生组成，他们在医疗保健应用软件开发方面有着良好的记录，并与一家为正畸医生社区提供3D对准器解决方案的商业供应商合作，并与埃克塞特大学卓越3D打印中心合作。

A novel approach to teeth straightening involving the use of clear thin plastic aligners that users slip on over their teeth and gums has been gaining ground over the more traditional metal (so called train-track) braces. Some advantages of clear aligners are that they are less conspicuous/less visible when worn, can be removed, and are easier to keep clean. Clear aligners are now estimated to account for 8% of orthodontic (teeth straightening) procedures worldwide with revenue in excess of 2 billion dollars.The design of clear aligners relies on using scanning techniques to generate computer models of a patient's dentition which are then used as the basis for a tailored treatment plan consisting of a sequence of clear aligners that progressively straighten teeth with 3D printing used in the process of making the aligners.This approach to developing a treatment plan is currently cumbersome and requires considerable input from a prescribing orthodontist in concert with specially trained dental technicians who carry out the detailed modelling steps interactively on a computer. This is a pain-staking and onerous process which contributes appreciably to the cost of the procedure.The present proposal is to develop a computer workflow for treatment planning, from dental scan right through to the design of patient specific aligners, which is largely automated thereby streamlining and deskilling the process with attendant substantive reduction in costs. This will in part be made possible by leveraging recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Techniques in the field of image processing as well as by employing computer (physics-based) simulation techniques to improve the treatment plan. This industrial research project will be run by a team at Vitaware Ltd. consisting of engineers, computer scientists and orthodontists with a well established track record in software development for Healthcare applications in partnership with a commercial provider of 3D aligner solutions to the orthodontist community and with the participation of The University of Exeter 3D Printing Centre of Excellence.