Set Mesial Set Distal

Set Mesial & Set Distal

These functions are used to let the software know what objects should be used to establish contact with an adjacent tooth

Basic Usage

You must select an object to set it as the "mesial" or "distal" object. The tooth restoration panel designates which unit to link the selected object. The unit which is highlighted in the panel will be the "owner" of the mesial or distal object which is selected. This is important because if you are designing back to back restorations, the "restoration" of tooth 16 will be the "Distal" of tooth 15.

1. Select the unit in the tooth restoration panel

2. Select the blender object in the 3d View or in the Outliner
3. Press "Set Mesial" or "Set Distal"
4. A brief message in the header will let you know something happened.

Detailed Concepts

Mesial and Distal are Part of Single Model/Object

This is the fastest way, because it does not require segmentation by the user. Occasionally, this can cause errors when the addon is trying to figure out what areas of the model to subtract when grinding contacts. Below, an error caused by gingival tissue which is irrelevant to the contact calculuation, but because the modifier must asses an entire large model, it is confused here.

Mesial and Distal are Separate Models/Objects

This is the method with the most control however require more user segmentation. The mesial and distal objects should be separate blender objects.

Here an example where the user has separated a small piece of a larger single scan model.

Here an example where the mesial and distal objects were separate objects because the dies were scanned individually.

Limitations

• Insertion axis is not accounted for, so undercuts can be formed

• If contact was not broken, area near the margin may be "tight" because the modifiers areattempting to keep marginal seal and grind in the contact, which may be competing. Resolve this with manual sculpting of the final restoration.