If you want to see exactly what your teeth will look like after you have major work, scientists may finally have the answer.
Pioneering new technology gives dental patients a ‘virtual view’ of their expected smile prior to parting with their hard-earned cash.
Kapanu 3D allows adults seeking a Hollywood smile to choose their desired smile right in front of their eyes – based on current scans of their mouth.
The system, created by Swiss researchers, gives users the chance to edit how close together their teeth are, as well as their whiteness.
Kapanu 3D allows adults seeking a Hollywood smile to choose their desired smile right in front of their eyes – based on current scans of their mouth
Pioneering new technology gives dental patients a ‘virtual view’ of their expected smile prior to parting with their hard-earned cash
Roland Mörzinger, chief executive officer, said the honest augmented reality helps manage expectations before a patient even sits down in the dreaded chair.
Writing on the product’s website, he said: ‘This software enables the patient to see within seconds the end result of the dental reconstruction.’
Hailed by experts
Leading dentists hailed Kapanu when it was revealed at the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, in March.
Kapanu, which is showcased on YouTube, can offer realistic simulations of length, width, shape and shade of teeth.
Patients can twist and turn their head to see their smile at multiple angles before they decide to go ahead with any treatment
The system, created by Swiss researchers, gives users the chance to edit how close together their teeth are, as well as their whiteness
How does it work?
The system works by using 3D scans of the patient’s mouth cavity through facial scans, International Business Times reports.
This is then matched with scans of known sets of good teeth that have already underwent the procedure in question.
A picture of the expected smile post-treatment is then overlapped onto a live video recording, dubbed a ‘virtual mirror’, of the patient’s current grin.
This rolling footage allows users to see the results of little tweaks to their smile, such as changing the shape of the teeth and colour, right in front of them.
Patients can twist and turn their head to see their smile at multiple angles before they decide to go ahead with any treatment.
Who developed it?
Kapanu was originally developed at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, before it was acquired by Ivoclar Vivadent – a leading international dental firm.
Current methods to predict what a smile will look after treatment revolve around molds and casts and are widely considered to be complicated and time-consuming.
But the new technology, which may not be 100 per cent accurate, is not yet available for end users, even though it is ready for market.
Leading dentists hailed Kapanu when it was revealed at the International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, in March
Kapanu , which is showcased on YouTube, can offer realistic simulations of length, width, shape and shade of teeth