| Method and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatment -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatmentRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Orthodontics, Method Of Positioning Or Aligning TeethMethod and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070072145, Method and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is generally in the field of orthodontics. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computerized method and system for virtual orthodontic treatment which may assist an orthodontist in designing an orthodontic treatment plan. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Orthodontic therapy has the object of aligning and repositioning teeth for both functional and aesthetic purposes. This is achieved by the use of a variety of orthodontic appliances including, brackets, wires (arch wires), coil springs and elastics. In combination, these appliances are fixed to teeth in such manner that orthodontic forces and moments cause the teeth to move in the desired direction. [0003] There are currently acceptable guidelines in orthodontics, which define the optimal dental and skeletal relations which should be the goal of the orthodontic treatment. A summary of such guidelines can be found in Straight Wire, the Concept and Appliances, by Laurence F. Andrews, L.A. Well, Co., San Diego, Calif. USA, 1989. These guidelines are based on both functional and aesthetic considerations. [0004] A common problem in the orthodontic field is the lack of space in the dental arch called dental crowding. In this clinical situation the orthodontist should decide if his orthodontic treatment plan will include the solution of tooth extractions (which is an irreversible procedure), how teeth should be moved against anchorage units during the treatment protocol and accordingly what orthodontic appliances should be chosen and how to apply them on the teeth to achieve a desired outcome. The procedure of assessing the best treatment plan by the orthodontist is typically based on patient clinical measurements, plaster cast and radiographic analysis, the orthodontist's personal "look and feel", and his prior experience and skills. In some cases it also required to prepare wax-based diagnostic setup model which exhibits the possible end result of the orthodontic case. This approach is time consuming and also does not permit to easily visualize the outcome of several treatment options at the same time. [0005] There is accordingly a need in the art to provide the orthodontist with a tool which enables him to design the treatment procedure--which will yield an optimal outcome, and to analyze possible outcome of different treatment methods. [0006] PCT Application WO 99/34747 describes a method for virtual orthodontic treatment, which utilizes a virtual set of orthodontic components, in a virtual computerized environment. A set of rules, which are mainly geometric rules, are applied to move the teeth by the use of standard and non standard virtual orthodontic components. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention provides a method and system for virtual orthodontic treatment. The virtual orthodontic treatment may be used by an orthodontist to evaluate possible outcomes of the orthodontic treatment. The present invention also provides, by one preferred embodiment, a computerized method and system for designing the real life orthodontic treatment scheme for a specific individual. [0008] The following are some terms which will be used herein and their meanings: [0009] The term "virtual orthodontic treatment" will be used to denote a virtual set of operations that is carried out on a virtual diagnostic setup model using a virtual set of orthodontic appliances within the virtual computer environment. In the virtual orthodontic treatment teeth are repositioned according to rules that are dictated by the virtual orthodontic appliances. For example, where the orthodontic appliances include a straight arch wire set comprising a straight arch wire and brackets attached to the teeth with the arch wire received in a slot within the bracket, the rules may dictate that the outcome of the treatment should be that all grooves of all brackets be in a plane defined by the arch wire with the teeth aligned along an arch defined by said arch wire. [0010] The term "virtual diagnostic setup model" refers to a virtual teeth model with the teeth separated such that each tooth can be repositioned. [0011] The term "reposition" will be used to denote, collectively, a change in the position of a tooth in the anteroposterior direction, in a vertical direction from a more attracted to a more extracted state or vice versa, an angular change in the buccullingual inclination, an angular axial change in orientation of a tooth, and in general any change in position and/or orientation of a tooth. [0012] The term "associated" or "association" will be used to denote the formation of a virtual physical relationship between the teeth of the virtual diagnostic setup model and the virtual orthodontic appliances. Where associated the teeth will be repositioned according to appliances-dependent rules, similar to the manner in which such appliances cause repositioning of teeth in real life orthodontic treatment. For example, the association of brackets with teeth involve attachment of brackets to the teeth's crown, or fixing an orthodontic band with integral bracket over a tooth. Association of arch wire involves snapping of the arch wire into a groove defined on the external face of the bracket. [0013] The term "appliance-dependent rules" refers to rules that govern the manner in which teeth will be repositioned in the virtual orthodontic treatment according to the invention, which are dictated by the properties of the appliances. For example, an appliance dependent rule in a combination of treatment appliances that include brackets attached to teeth and an arch wire may be a rule that calls for the arch wire to assume its normal or native curvature and the brackets to have a position with their slots fitted into the wire. In an initial state of the teeth, once virtual brackets are attached to the teeth surface in the virtual teeth image and an arch wire is associated therewith, many brackets will deviate from their position dictated by such a rule and will thus be repositioned until the rule is fulfilled. Other examples are for example longitudinal movement of brackets along the arch wire with its slot engaging the arch wire with such path of relocation being dictated by the arch wire's orientation. As is no doubt clear, these are only examples of appliances-dependent rules. It is also no doubt clear, since the virtual brackets are associated with the virtual teeth in the teeth image, any movements of the brackets will bring to repositioning of the tooth associated therewith. [0014] Some other terms are used herein, which generally have a meaning similar to that ascribed to these terms in a real life orthodontic treatment, or have meaning that become clear from the context in which they are used. It should be understood that use of physical terms such as "repositioning", "extraction", etc., refers to such manipulations performed within the virtual computer environment, unless it otherwise becomes clear from the context. [0015] The present invention is based on a novel concept for virtual orthodontic treatment. In accordance with the invention, a virtual set of orthodontic appliances is associated with teeth of a virtual diagnostic setup model to obtain a first composite model, and the teeth are permitted to reposition into an initial treatment state according to pre-defined appliances-dependent rules. Typical rules in the case of use of brackets and a straight arch wire set that comprise brackets and a straight arch wire include alignment of all horizontal slots on the face of the bracket that receive the arch wire on a plane defined by the wire and alignment of the teeth along the arch defined by the arch wire. Upon achieving said initial treatment state, one or more teeth are virtually detached from the appliances and thus the virtual appliance is reassociated in a different location on the tooth surface, to obtain an improved treatment state that yields a better grade, according to one or more systems for grading orthodontic models, as compared to the grade of said initial treatment state. The detachment and reassociating procedure may be repeated a plurality of times, with different types of teeth repositioning, to achieve the highest possible grade. [0016] For the purpose of designing an orthodontic treatment plan, following repositioning and reassociation of the orthodontic appliances with the teeth, the teeth are reverted back to their initial position in the virtual diagnostic setup model with the orthodontic appliances remaining attached thereon. The association of the orthodontic appliances set with the teeth in the resulting composite model will thus be different than that in the first composite model. This resulting composite model may be thus used by an orthodont to design the manner of association of the orthodontic appliances with teeth within the framework of the real life orthodontic treatment. Such association will give rise to result in the real life treatment similar to those of the virtual orthodontic treatment carried out in accordance with the invention. [0017] The invention thus provides a virtual orthodontic treatment method, that comprises: [0018] providing a virtual diagnostic setup model of teeth of at least one jaw of an individual, associating virtual orthodontic appliances with all teeth in said model to obtain a first composite model and repositioning teeth into an initial treatment state according to pre-defined appliances-dependent rules; [0019] in said initial treatment state, detaching one or more teeth from their corresponding one or more orthodontic appliances, repositioning said one or more appliances, reassociating said one or more appliances with the teeth, permitting the teeth to reposition according to the appliances-dependent rules to obtain an altered treatment state, yielding a better grade, according to one or more systems for grading an orthodontic model, as compared to the grade of said initial treatment state. [0020] The present invention also provides a system for virtual orthodontic treatment, that comprises [0021] (i) a digital interface for receiving digital data representative of a virtual diagnostic setup model of teeth; [0022] (ii) a processor including a software for [0023] associating virtual orthodontic appliances with all teeth in said model to obtain a first composite model, [0024] repositioning teeth according to appliance-dependent rules into an initial treatment state according to pre-defined appliances-dependent rules, and for [0025] selecting teeth in said initial treatment state and virtually detaching one or more teeth from their corresponding orthodontic appliances, repositioning said one or more appliances and reassociating said one or more appliances with the teeth and permitting the positioning of the teeth according to appliance-dependent rules, to obtain a second composite virtual model with an altered treatment state, yielding a better grade, according to one or more systems for grading an orthodontic model, as compared to the grade of said initial treatment position; and [0026] (iii) a user interface comprising at least a display for displaying results of the virtual orthodontic treatment. [0027] Also provided by the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment, is a method for designing a real life orthodontic treatment, comprising: [0028] (a) providing a virtual diagnostic setup model of an initial state of teeth of at least one jaw of an individual, associating virtual orthodontic appliances with all teeth in said model in a first association arrangement to obtain a first composite virtual model; [0029] (b) permitting the teeth to reposition according to pre-defined appliances-dependent rules into an initial treatment state with a second association arrangement of said teeth and said appliances; [0030] (c) in said initial treatment state [0031] selecting one or more teeth and virtually detaching at least the selected teeth from said orthodontic appliances, [0032] repositioning said appliances on the selected teeth and reassociating appliances to the teeth and permitting the teeth to reposition according to appliance-dependent rules into a second composite virtual model with an altered treatment state, yielding a better grade, according to one or more systems for grading an orthodontic model, as compared to the grade of said initial treatment state. [0033] (d) permitting the teeth to revert back from their state in said second composite virtual model into said initial state with said orthodontic appliance remaining associated with the teeth in a manner as in said second composite virtual model to obtain a treatment-design virtual model with orthodontic appliances associated with the teeth in a manner of association to be applied in a real life orthodontic treatment. Continue reading about Method and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatment... Full patent description for Method and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for assessing the outcome of an orthodontic treatment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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