US Patent 11842484 Teeth segmentation using neural networks

A computer-implemented method and system of digitally segmenting teeth in a digital model comprises generating a panoramic image from a 3D digital model of a patient's dentition, labeling, using a first trained neural network, the panoramic image to provide a labeled panoramic image, mapping the labeled panoramic image to corresponding coarse digital surface triangle labels in the 3D digital model to provide a labeled 3D digital model, and segmenting the labeled 3D digital model to provide a segmented 3D digital model. A computer-implemented method and system of generating a panoramic image comprises determining, using a trained neural network, digital tooth bounding region(s) corresponding to digital teeth from a 2D depth map of a patient's dentition, connecting digital tooth bounding region(s) by a spline, determining sampled digital surface points from the sampled spline points; and determining associated digital surface points corresponding to each sampled digital surface point.