Patent ID: 9592103
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: A61C,G06N,G16H

Claim:
1. A method for virtual orthodontic treatment using a computer system, comprising: (a) providing a first virtual three-dimensional (3D) image indicative of a 3D model of all teeth of at least one jaw; (b) selecting a virtual set of orthodontic components, comprising (i) brackets, one for each tooth in said first virtual three-dimensional (3D) image, for attachment to teeth of said first virtual three-dimensional (3D) image, each of said brackets having a slot for engaging a wire, and (ii) one or two archwires; (c) associating the brackets with the teeth of said first virtual three-dimensional (3D) image so to obtain a second image of said virtual 3D model with the brackets associated with the teeth of the model, one bracket on each tooth in said model; (d) using a set of rules, including a rule that requires each slot to engage the archwire, computing the manner of movement of each tooth with the bracket associated therewith, so as to obtain a third image comprising the teeth model following the virtual treatment; (e) changing at least one bracket or the manner of associating a bracket with a tooth and repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times until the teeth model of said third image represents a desired outcome of the orthodontic treatment; and (f) outputting at least the third image from the computer system.