Patent ID: 7210929

Claim:
A method of selecting a relative orientation of an orthodontic appliance and a tooth comprising: providing a first relative orientation of the appliance and the tooth; defining a first set of rays extending between a base of the appliance and the tooth when the appliance and the tooth are in the first relative orientation; determining the distance along each ray between the base and the tooth when the appliance and the tooth are in the first relative orientation; relatively moving the appliance and the tooth in an arc about a reference axis to a second relative orientation; defining a second set of rays extending between the base and the tooth when the appliance and the tooth are in the second relative orientation; determining the distance along each ray between the base and the tooth when the appliance and the tooth are in the second relative orientation; quantifying the difference between the distances determined when the appliance and the tooth are in the first relative orientation and the distances determined when the appliance and the tooth are in the second relative orientation; and relatively moving the appliance and the tooth in an arc about the reference axis in a direction such that the quantified difference is reduced.