Systems and methods for orthodontic treatment progress tracking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12150830-B2
Application number	US-202318448878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2023
Priority date	Jun 8, 2007
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods for orthodontic treatment progress tracking. Information based on an orthodontic treatment plan prescribed for a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment may be received. The orthodontic treatment plan specifies planned tooth movements according to a series of treatment stages. An orthodontic progress tracking schedule for the patient based on one or more particular tooth movements of the planned tooth movements may be generated. The orthodontic progress tracking schedule may prescribe a timing schedule for acquiring images of the patient's teeth to track progress of the orthodontic treatment. Images of teeth arrangements of the patient according to the orthodontic progress tracking schedule may be received. Results based on the tracked orthodontic treatment progress may be provided, for example, on a display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for orthodontic treatment progress tracking, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory, including instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to:
receive information based on an orthodontic treatment plan prescribed for a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment, wherein the orthodontic treatment plan specifies planned tooth movements according to a series of treatment stages;
generate an orthodontic progress tracking schedule for the patient based on one or more particular tooth movements of the planned tooth movements, wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule prescribes a timing schedule for acquiring images of the patient's teeth to track progress of orthodontic treatment, wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule specifies a first frequency of acquiring the images of the patient's teeth during a first set of treatment stages of the series of treatment stages and a second frequency during a second set of treatment stages of the series of treatment stages, wherein the first frequency is different from the second frequency, and wherein the first and second frequencies are determined prior to implementation of the orthodontic treatment plan on the patient's teeth;
receive images of teeth arrangements of the patient according to the orthodontic progress tracking schedule; and
output, on a display, results based on the tracked orthodontic treatment progress.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more particular tooth movements are identified as having an increased risk of moving off track from one or more corresponding planned tooth movements.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more particular tooth movements include extrusion or rotation.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more particular tooth movements are movements of one or more particular types of teeth.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule is further based on one or more physiological or clinical characteristics of the patient.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more physiological or clinical characteristics include one or more of: root structure, jaw characteristics, patient age, patient gender, patient ethnicity, medication profile, health history profile, dental history, and a type of the orthodontic treatment plan.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule is further based on timing of one or more events of the orthodontic treatment plan, wherein the one or more events include a wearing by the patient of one or more appliances of a set of appliances.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule is further based on one or more parameters associated with a rate of movement of the patient's teeth, wherein the one or more parameters include population statistics, clinical expectations, and/or physiological parameters.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule comprises uniform timing intervals for acquiring the images of the patient's teeth.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule comprises non-uniform timing intervals.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the results include information associated with whether the orthodontic treatment is on track.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of treatment stages include tooth movements of different types.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of treatment stages include movements of different types of teeth.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of treatment stages are predicted as having different risks of moving off track.

15. A method of orthodontic treatment progress tracking, the method comprising:
receiving information based on an orthodontic treatment plan prescribed for a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment, wherein the orthodontic treatment plan specifies planned tooth movements according to a series of treatment stages;
generating an orthodontic progress tracking schedule for the patient based on one or more particular tooth movements of the planned tooth movements, wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule prescribes a timing schedule for acquiring images of the patient's teeth to track progress of the orthodontic treatment, wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule specifies a first frequency of acquiring the images of the patient's teeth during a first set of treatment stages of the series of treatment stages and a second frequency during a second set of treatment stages of the series of treatment stages, wherein the first frequency is different from the second frequency, and wherein the first and second frequencies are determined prior to implementation of the orthodontic treatment plan on the patient's teeth;
receiving images of teeth arrangements of the patient according to the orthodontic progress tracking schedule; and
outputting, on a display, results based on the tracked orthodontic treatment progress.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more particular tooth movements are identified as having an increased risk of moving off track from one or more corresponding planned tooth movements.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining whether the orthodontic treatment is on track, wherein the results include information associated with whether the orthodontic treatment is on track.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the orthodontic treatment plan is based on a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth generated based on a scan of the patient's teeth.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more particular tooth movements are movements of one or more particular types of teeth.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions capable of being executed by one or more processors that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
receiving information based on an orthodontic treatment plan prescribed for a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment, wherein the orthodontic treatment plan specifies planned tooth movements according to a series of treatment stages;
generating an orthodontic progress tracking schedule for the patient based on one or more particular tooth movements of the planned tooth movements, wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule prescribes a timing schedule for acquiring images of the patient's teeth to track progress of orthodontic treatment, wherein the orthodontic progress tracking schedule specifies a first frequency of acquiring the images of the patient's teeth during a first set of treatment stages of the series of treatment stages and a second frequency during a second set of treatment stages of the series of treatment stages, wherein the first frequency is different from the second frequency, and wherein the first and second frequencies are determined prior to implementation of the orthodontic treatment plan on the patient's teeth;
receiving images of teeth arrangements of the patient according to the orthodontic progress tracking schedule; and
outputting, on a display, results based on progress of the orthodontic treatment.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein the results include information associated with whether orthodontic treatment is on track.

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Kitching Ian
• Sterental Rene
• Kuo Eric
• Singer Maia

Classifications

• A61C7/08

  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 title

• A61C7/002

  Orthodontic computer assisted systems · CPC title

• A61C7/00 Primary

  Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions · CPC title