Patent ID: 6963788

Claim:
In a computer system that includes an input device for scanning into the computer system a digital representation of a patient's teeth, a method for facilitating precision bending of an orthodontic archwire that is to be connected to orthodontic brackets so that when affixed to the patient's teeth the brackets and the archwire will effect a desired orthodontic correction on the patient's teeth, the method comprising the following: a step for scanning into the computer system a digital representation of the patient's teeth; a step for obtaining a digital representation of an orthodontic archwire having a proposed bending configuration that is designed to effect a desired orthodontic correction when connected to the orthodontic brackets and placed on the patient's teeth; and an act of generating a three dimensional guide in the form of a holographic image of the proposed bending configuration for the archwire, wherein the three dimensional guide is then usable by a practitioner as a template from which to create an actual bending of an archwire in conformity with the generated three dimensional guide displayed as the holographic image.