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

一种新的牙齿矫直方法，包括使用透明的薄塑料矫正器，用户可以将其套在牙齿和牙床上，已经超过了更传统的金属(所谓的铁轨)矫正器。透明矫正器的一些优点是佩戴时不那么显眼/不太显眼，可以拆卸，更容易保持清洁。透明矫正器现在估计占全球正畸(牙齿矫直)手术的8%，收入超过20亿美元。透明矫正器的设计依赖于使用扫描技术生成患者牙列的计算机模型，然后将其用作定制治疗计划的基础，该治疗计划由一系列透明矫正器组成，在制作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繁琐，需要处方正畸医生和受过专门培训的牙科技术人员在计算机上交互地执行详细的建模步骤。目前的建议是为治疗计划开发一个计算机工作流程，从牙科扫描到患者专用对比器的设计，这在很大程度上是自动化的，从而简化和消除杀菌过程，并相应地大幅降低成本。这将在一定程度上通过利用图像处理领域人工智能(AI)技术的最新进展以及通过使用计算机(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Vitware Ltd.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拥有良好的记录，并与一家向正畸医生社区提供3D对准器解决方案的商业提供商合作，并参与了埃克塞特大学3D打印卓越中心的工作。

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.