Patent ID: 7716062
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: A61C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing a dental appliance to a patient, the method comprising the steps of: manufacturing a plurality of types of pre-formed dental appliances before diagnosing the patient wherein each type of preformed dental appliance corresponds to one of a plurality of types of orthodontic conditions; obtaining an image of an interior of a mouth of the patient using an image capturing device wherein the image is obtained by the image capturing device after the plurality of types of pre-formed dental appliances are manufactured; diagnosing the patient based on the image of the interior of the mouth of the patient wherein the patient is diagnosed after the plurality of types, of pre-formed dental appliances are manufactured; determining if the patient is treatable by one of the plurality of types of pre-formed dental appliances; and providing the patient with the dental appliance wherein the dental appliance is one of the types of pre-formed dental appliance corresponding to the type of orthodontic condition diagnosed in the patient if the patient is, treatable by one of the plurality of types of pre-formed dental appliances wherein the dental appliance is a customized dental appliance if the patient is not treatable by one of the types of pre-formed dental appliances.