Automatic border modeling of denture using artificial intelligence and air-assisted intraoral scanner

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22720
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 57:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: ICHIKAWA Tetsuo 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(歯学域), 教授 (90193432)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: デジタル印象 / 口腔内スキャナ / AI / 空気圧 / 床縁

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a method of making a digital impression of the edentulous region of jaw (Air-assisted Intra-Oral Scanner: AIOS), in which an air pressure nozzle is attached to the tip of the intra-oral scanner and the air pressure emitted through the nozzle is expected to form a denture space. The condition of air pressure and effectiveness of the AIOS were investigated. Air was extracted from a dental chair and filtered through a decompression valve and a sterilized air filter. Two types of air pressure nozzles were prepared.
The AIOS was found to be effective in taking impressions of the tooth surface, dentition, and mucosa without poor patient's own impression feeling. However, the study did not proceed to the initial goal of obtaining the appropriate denture border, and only the possibility of this expectation was confirmed.

Free Research Field

歯科補綴学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、全く手つかずだった義歯床縁形態のデジタル記録法に挑戦したことであり、この床縁形成、筋圧形成の自動化が成し遂げなければ、有床義歯のデジタル化を進めることができず、まさしくブレイクスルーをしなければならないところである。しかし、動かない不動粘膜面の印象自体も、日本で市販されている口腔内スキャナでは容易ではなく、工夫が必要であることが判明した。また考案した空気圧をかけての印象が有用であること、疑似カラーのきれいさが判明しただけでも挑戦的萌芽研究として非常に意義が高かったと考える。