COMPUSHADE

VISIERE POUR ORDINATEUR

Description

CA 02202~9 1997-04-14

Daniel Schonblum
188 Dunblaine Ave.
Toronto, Ontario M5M 2S5
Canada
Tel:(416) 785-8077
Fax (416)785-7172
Email: teeth(~ican.net



This is a miniature version of the IPS opaque-dentin V Shade guide made to the
specifications noted in the diagram. This mini shade guide shollld be made of
high quality plastic material which can be autoclaved after each use. The 16 Vita
Shades should be 2mm x 3mm and be surrounded by lmm of clear plastic. The
new shade tabs should have the same surface texture as the current shade tabs, and
be flush with the clear plastic that is surrounding each square.
-


PressR~ e CA oi202 F F 9 1 9 9 7-04- î 4il~5~h~ nbOx?id=332c32lF36DA~io~org,o ' 338

,
bject: Press Release
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 12:47:11 -0500
From: Shmuel Weidberg <shmuel(~io.org>
To: Dovid Schonblurn ~teeth(~ican.net>
We are looking for partners to help market CompuShade, a method for
getting computers to determine the shade of teeth. Many dentists find it
quite difficult to tell the difference between a B3 and a B2. We have a
solution to the problem.
1. The dentist takes a picture of the patient. The picture can be taken
with a traditional camera such as the Yashica~ Dental Camera and Ring
Light, and then scanned into a computer by the doctor, or technician.
Better still, it can be taken digitally with a video camera attached to
the Snappy~ digitizer which plugs into the back of any computer. A more
convenient method might be to take the picture with a digital camera
such as the Kodak~ DC 40 modified with a ring light.
2. The doctor takes the picture with the patient or an assistant holding
a mini shade guide in the mouth or near the teeth. The doctor takes at
least 4 photographs from different angles to ensure that a clear picture
with no shadowing from the nose or lips and no glare is produced. Two
shots should be straight on (no glare, and one from either side at a 45
degree angle to include cuspids and bicuspids.
3. We specially designed the mini guide using the 16 shades of the Vita
shade guide of opaque dentin porcelains which has the closest match of
any other porcelains to natural dentition. The mini guide can be
sterilized (autoclaved) for germ free reuse on other patients.
4. The digitized picture can then be sent to the dental lab via email or
saved onto a disk. The disk or traditional photograph can be sent via
mail, courier, or overnight delivery.
5. The Lab uses a program to find which one of the shade tabs is the
closest match to the tooth. Alternatively, the program itself can be
marketed to the dentist and he can-~use~it~ to determine the shade on his
own and tell the lab over the phone.
6. Matching of shades is accomplished by comparing the rgb values of the
teeth to the rgb values of each shade tab and finding the closest match.
This is accurate because both the teeth and the shade guide are
photographed under the same light. We can match the dentin enamels and
translucencies (if present) to the natural dentition. In our experience,
the computer is as accurate as the technician is, at selecting a
matching shade.
7. We have a picture gallery on the Internet of before and after shots
of patients whose teeth were restored without them ever having been in
the technician's office. Doctors are encouraged to add their own work to
our gallery to show to prospective patients.

--Shmuel Weidberg--Toronto, Canada-- shmuel@ican.net
-- http://home.ican.net/~shmuel


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Representative Drawing