Creating three-dimensional virtual patients by superimposing intraoral and facial digital scans guided with an aligner system: A dental technique

Xabier Amezua; Gaizka Erkizia; Mikel Jauregi; Eneko Solaberrieta

doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.09.008

Creating three-dimensional virtual patients by superimposing intraoral and facial digital scans guided with an aligner system: A dental technique

J Prosthet Dent. 2022 Oct 31:S0022-3913(22)00611-4. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.09.008. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xabier Amezua¹, Gaizka Erkizia², Mikel Jauregi³, Eneko Solaberrieta⁴

Affiliations

¹ Research Assistant, Department of Graphic Design and Engineering Projects, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain.
² Assistant Professor, Department of Graphic Design and Engineering Projects, Faculty of Engineering Bilbao, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain.
³ Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain.
⁴ Associate Professor, Department of Graphic Design and Engineering Projects, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain. Electronic address: eneko.solaberrieta@ehu.eus.

PMID: 36328824
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.09.008

Abstract

A technique for creating 3-dimensional virtual patients (3DVPs) by superimposing intraoral and facial digital scans guided with a novel aligner system is described. This aligner system supports design modifications to adapt to different facial scanning methods (FSMs) and reduce the impact of FSMs on the accuracy of 3DVPs. Two different designs of the aligner system are described: one for use with less-accurate FSMs and another for use with more-accurate FSMs. These virtual designs are available for download and use.