Clinician review of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance

• US 20010002310A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 05/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Chishti, Muhammad, Benton, Phillips Alexander, Wen, Huafeng, Beers, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/466 adapted to display 3D data
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/00 Impression cups, i.e. impression trays; Impression methods computer-assisted sizing A61C13/0004; instruments for determining occlusion A61C19/05
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/004 Means or methods for taking digitized impressions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/008 Mechanical means or methods, e.g. a contact probe moving over the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient'"'"'s teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient'"'"'s teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for reviewing tooth arrangements, said method comprising:

maintaining a digital data set representing a three-dimensional graphical representation of a patient'"'"'s teeth in a host computer;

electronically transmitting the digital data set to a viewing computer;

displaying the three-dimensional graphical representation on the viewing computer to a treating clinician; and

electronically transmitting changes to the graphical representation or comments of the treating clinician from the viewing computer to the host computer.

2. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the digital data set represents the teeth in a reconfigured arrangement.

3. A method as in

claim 2

, wherein the digital data set represents a final tooth configuration to be achieved by orthodontic treatment.

4. A method as in

claim 3

, further comprising maintaining a second digital data set representing a three-dimensional graphical representation of the patient'"'"'s teeth in an initial arrangement on the host computer, electronically transmitting the second digital data set to the viewing computer, and displaying the three-dimensional graphical representation of the patient'"'"'s teeth in the initial arrangement on the viewing computer to the treating clinician.

5. A method as in

claim 4

, wherein the graphical representations of the teeth in the final and initial configurations are displayed side-by-side on a display of the viewing computer.

6. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the digital data set represents a series of intermediate configurations from an initial tooth configuration to a final arrangement.

7. A method as in

claim 6

, wherein the digital data set is displayed as an animated routine.

8. A method as in

claim 7

, wherein the treating clinician manipulates the animation routine on the viewing computer to step forward or backward through images along a treatment path.

9. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the host computer is remote from the viewing computer.

10. A method as in

claim 9

, wherein transmitting data between the host computer and the viewing computer is performed over a direct connection.

11. A method as in

claim 9

, wherein transmitting data between the host computer and the viewing computer is performed over the world wide web.

12. A computer-implemented method as in

claim 1

, further comprising altering a three-dimensional image displayed on the viewing computer, wherein the altered image may be electronically transmitted to the host computer.

13. A computer-implemented method as in

claim 12

, further comprising detecting tooth collisions resulting from the altered image and altering the treating clinician.

14. A computer-implemented method as in

claim 1

, wherein electronically transmitting comments comprises sending textual messages.

15. A method as in

claim 1

, further comprising revising the digital data set on the host computer to incorporate changes suggested by the treating clinician to produce a revised digital data set.

16. A method as in

claim 15

, further comprising electronically transmitting the revised digital data set to the viewing computer, displaying a revised three-dimensional graphical representation on the viewing computer to the treating clinician, and electronically transmitting further changes to the graphical representation or comments of the treating clinician from the viewing computer to the host computer.