Digital Orthodontic Setup Using Prescribed Ideal Arch Form

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthodontic treatment methods lack efficient and natural methods for aligning teeth to an ideal arch form, often resulting in excessive tooth movement and potential periodontal tissue stress, which can lead to long-term health issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize an algorithm to select and scale an ideal arch form based on a patient's teeth model, repositioning teeth to align with the scaled arch form, and generate instructions for manufacturing orthodontic appliances, minimizing tooth movement and stress through precise digital planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional orthodontic methods are used to align teeth to an ideal arch form, then teeth can be straightened, but excessive tooth movement occurs causing periodontal tissue stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth alignment precisionVSAvoidperiodontal tissue stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary digital planning and simulation before actual treatment, allowing the orthodontist to preview tooth movement paths and adjust the treatment plan to minimize excessive movement and periodontal stress before applying forces to the patient's teeth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of tooth movement by using digital models to calculate and control the magnitude and direction of movement, transitioning from traditional trial-and-adjustment methods to precision-controlled movement that minimizes periodontal tissue stress while achieving alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual orthodontic treatment planning is used, then treatment can be customized, but the process is time-consuming and lacks efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment customizationVSAvoidtreatment planning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical measurement and planning methods with digital imaging and computer-based software, allowing automated calculation of tooth positions and movement paths while maintaining full customization capability through digital model manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies (virtual models) of the patient's teeth and arch form, allowing the orthodontist to work with these replicas in the digital environment to plan and simulate treatment without affecting the actual teeth, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining customization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11045281B2Digital orthodontic setup using a prescribed ideal arch form

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 ORMCO CORP

AI summary

The invention generally relates to methods, systems, and computer program products for digital orthodontic setup using a prescribed ideal arch form. The invention may include an imaging system, an orthodontic device production system, and an orthodontic treatment system interconnected by way of a network. The orthodontic treatment system may facilitate manipulating one or more reference teeth into a position by the dental practitioner. The orthodontic treatment system may further facilitate selection of an ideal unit-less arch form and scaling of the ideal unit-less arch form into a scaled ideal arch form to fit the reference teeth. After the selected ideal unit-less arch form is scaled to fit the reference teeth, the remaining teeth are positioned with respect to the scaled ideal arch form, either manually by a dental practitioner or automatically by an alignment algorithm.