Inventors:
Alan C. Morris - Salt Lake City UT
Craig A. Mabrito - Bellaire TX
Matthew R. Roberts - Idaho Falls ID
Assignee:
DenTech, L.L.C. - Salt Lake City UT
International Classification:
A61C 500
US Classification:
433 26, 4332031, 356404, 356421, 382165
Abstract:
A method of making a patients dental prosthesis (e. g. , a prosthesis tooth, crown, veneer, or bridge) by acquiring an image of the patients teeth that contain black and white normalization references. These references are black and white porcelain, for example, that allow software of the invention to determine absolute black and absolute white within the color image. The acquired color image is then normalized in accordance with the normalization references, which corrects the image for variations in lighting conditions and image source. The normalized image is then standardized by matching the pixels of the normalized image to selected shade standards. The dental prosthesis can then be manufactured by a lab technician by referring to the standardized image. The tooth shade analysis and matching system is also applicable to direct restorations of natural teeth, such as repair of chipped or broken teeth. Methods of whitening teeth are also disclosed.