Patent attributes
A dental overlay for preparing a tooth is prepared. Movements a cutting tool follows in preparing the tooth are simulated based on data acquired from a dentition and define tooth structure to be removed by the tool from the tooth. The overlay is produced with an inner surface corresponding to and configured for contacting a contact region on and extending between respective top and bottom portions of and partially around the tooth or a neighboring tooth of the tooth. The respective bottom portion or portions are configured to be adjacent to a gingiva. The inner surface thereby remains releasably fixed to the contact region and in a same position relative to the tooth upon pressure to the overlay by the tool during the defined tooth structure removal. A groove of the overlay is configured for contacting the tool to limit its movements to predetermined movements corresponding to the simulated movements.
