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Problem Addressed by the Invention

Traditional methods of capturing dental impressions and oral images are often uncomfortable, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Conventional impression materials can cause gag reflex, discomfort, and inaccurate results, while also requiring multiple steps and repeat procedures. Even modern digital solutions have notable limitations.

Most existing digital intraoral scanning systems rely on handheld scanning wands. These devices must be continuously moved inside the mouth, which can cause discomfort for patients and fatigue for clinicians. Because the scanner is always in motion, the quality of the captured images depends heavily on operator skill. Small hand movements, changes in angle, or patient motion can lead to image distortion, stitching errors, or incomplete scans, often requiring rescanning.

Another common issue is moisture inside the mouth. Saliva, fogging, and condensation can easily form on camera lenses, reducing image clarity and making it difficult to capture fine details such as tooth margins or gum lines. Current systems often rely on powders, drying procedures, or repeated cleaning of the scanner tip, increasing procedure time and complexity.

Benchtop scanners are an alternative, but they require physical impressions or models to be made first. These systems are bulky, not chairside-friendly, and add extra steps, delays, and costs to the dental workflow.

Existing systems also struggle to efficiently capture a complete view of the oral region in one step. Scanning the upper teeth, lower teeth, gums, lips, and jaw relationships often requires multiple devices, repositioning, or separate procedures. Capturing accurate jaw alignment and movement data is especially challenging with current tools.

Overall, the dental industry lacks a compact, patient-friendly, and efficient imaging solution that can capture high-quality, full-mouth digital impressions with minimal motion, reduced moisture interference, and consistent accuracy, while also simplifying the workflow for dental professionals.

Addressing a Major Gap in Prior Art

Yes, the invention clearly addresses a major and well-recognized gap in prior oral imaging technologies.

Prior art in digital dental imaging is largely divided into handheld intraoral scanning wands and benchtop scanners, each with inherent limitations. Handheld scanners require continuous manual movement inside the mouth, making scan quality highly dependent on operator skill and patient cooperation. This often leads to motion-related inaccuracies, stitching errors, incomplete scans, and patient discomfort. Benchtop scanners, on the other hand, require physical impressions or models, adding extra steps, time, and cost, and do not support real-time, chairside imaging.

A critical gap in prior art is the lack of a stable, stationary scanning solution that can capture high-quality, full-mouth digital impressions without continuous hand movement. Existing systems also fail to adequately manage moisture, fogging, and condensation near imaging sensors, which directly affects image clarity and margin detection. Many solutions rely on powders, repeated drying, or manual cleaning, none of which are efficient or patient-friendly.

Another significant gap is the inability to capture multiple oral regions simultaneously. Prior art typically requires separate scans for upper teeth, lower teeth, gums, lips, and jaw alignment. Accurate recording of bite position and jaw relationships, especially in a repeatable and clinically reliable manner, remains a challenge with conventional scanning tools.

The invention addresses these gaps by introducing a tray-based oral imaging system where imaging sensors and illumination elements are fixed in position relative to the teeth and gums, eliminating motion-induced errors. The inclusion of integrated air and suction channels directly resolves the moisture and condensation problem at the source. Furthermore, the stacked tray configuration with a jaw-positioning ramp enables simultaneous upper and lower jaw scanning while capturing accurate bite relationships, a capability largely absent in prior systems.

In summary, the invention fills a major gap in prior art by combining stationary full-mouth scanning, active moisture control, and simultaneous jaw relationship capture into a single, integrated system designed for efficient clinical use.

Brief Description of the Gap Addressed

Yes, the invention clearly addresses a major and well-recognized gap in prior oral imaging technologies.

Prior art in digital dental imaging is largely divided into handheld intraoral scanning wands and benchtop scanners, each with inherent limitations. Handheld scanners require continuous manual movement inside the mouth, making scan quality highly dependent on operator skill and patient cooperation. This often leads to motion-related inaccuracies, stitching errors, incomplete scans, and patient discomfort. Benchtop scanners, on the other hand, require physical impressions or models, adding extra steps, time, and cost, and do not support real-time, chairside imaging.

A critical gap in prior art is the lack of a stable, stationary scanning solution that can capture high-quality, full-mouth digital impressions without continuous hand movement. Existing systems also fail to adequately manage moisture, fogging, and condensation near imaging sensors, which directly affects image clarity and margin detection. Many solutions rely on powders, repeated drying, or manual cleaning, none of which are efficient or patient-friendly.

Another significant gap is the inability to capture multiple oral regions simultaneously. Prior art typically requires separate scans for upper teeth, lower teeth, gums, lips, and jaw alignment. Accurate recording of bite position and jaw relationships, especially in a repeatable and clinically reliable manner, remains a challenge with conventional scanning tools.

The invention addresses these gaps by introducing a tray-based oral imaging system where imaging sensors and illumination elements are fixed in position relative to the teeth and gums, eliminating motion-induced errors. The inclusion of integrated air and suction channels directly resolves the moisture and condensation problem at the source. Furthermore, the stacked tray configuration with a jaw-positioning ramp enables simultaneous upper and lower jaw scanning while capturing accurate bite relationships, a capability largely absent in prior systems.

In summary, the invention fills a major gap in prior art by combining stationary full-mouth scanning, active moisture control, and simultaneous jaw relationship capture into a single, integrated system designed for efficient clinical use.