Method and system for providing indexing and cataloguing of orthodontic related treatment profiles and options

Abstract

Method and system for providing an orthodontic profile indexing and treatment plan including comparing an initial patient condition in each of a plurality of dentition categories with one or more reference conditions in each of the plurality of dentition categories, wherein each of the one or more reference conditions has a corresponding representation, selecting at least one reference condition in one or more of the plurality of dentition categories, where each selected reference condition is similar to the initial patient condition in a same dentition category, and generating a patient identifier based on the corresponding representations of each selected reference condition is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for characterizing a dentition of a patient, comprising:
 accessing a database including one or more reference conditions in each of a plurality of dentition categories, each reference condition including a corresponding first value;   determining, using a computer, a similar reference condition to an initial patient condition in each of the plurality of dentition categories by:
 comparing the initial patient condition in each of the plurality of dentition categories with the one or more reference conditions in each of the plurality of dentition categories; and 
 receiving a selection of at least one reference condition in one or more of the plurality of dentition categories that is similar to the initial patient condition in a same dentition category; and 
   generating, using the computer, a patient identifier matrix including a plurality of positions, wherein:
 each of the plurality of positions corresponds to one of the plurality of dentition categories; and 
 each of the plurality of positions includes a second value equal to the first value of the selected reference condition for the corresponding one of the plurality of dentition categories. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dentition categories include at least two of: sagittal, vertical, horizontal, arch length, or a number of a tooth in a dentition of a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of categories are applied to at least two of: initial condition, treatment goal, final condition, during treatment condition, or post-treatment condition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of defining a treatment goal wherein the treatment goal is not ideal in at least one dimensional component of sagittal, vertical, horizontal, or arch length. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of generating one or more of a treatment description, a time to complete the treatment, a difficulty level, or an example of the treatment option. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 comparing at least a portion of the patient identifier with one or more reference identifiers, wherein each of the one or more reference identifiers includes an initial reference dentition and a final reference dentition;   receiving a selection of at least one reference identifier from the one or more reference identifiers, wherein the selected reference identifier includes the portion of the patient identifier; and   determining a final patient dentition based on the final reference dentition corresponding to the selected reference identifier.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
 comparing at least a portion of the patient identifier and a treatment goal with one or more reference identifiers, wherein each of the one or more reference identifiers includes an initial reference dentition and a treatment goal reference identifier; and   determining a patient dentition goal based on the final reference dentition corresponding to the selected reference identifier.   
     
     
         8 . A system for providing an orthodontic profile indexing system, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage unit including one or more reference conditions in each of a plurality of dentition categories, each reference condition including a corresponding first value; and   a controller unit operatively coupled to the non-transitory storage unit, and configured to:
 access the non-transitory storage unit; and 
 determine a similar reference condition to an initial patient condition in each of the plurality of dentition categories by:
 comparing the initial patient condition in each of the plurality of dentition categories with the one or more reference conditions in each of the plurality of dentition categories; 
 receiving a selection of at least one reference condition in one or more of the plurality of dentition categories that is similar to the initial patient condition in a same dentition category, and 
 generating a patient identifier matrix including a plurality of positions, wherein:
 each of the plurality of positions corresponds to one of the plurality of dentition categories; and 
 each of the plurality of positions includes a second value equal to the first value of the selected reference condition for the corresponding one of the plurality of dentition categories. 
 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of dentition categories include at least two of: sagittal, vertical, horizontal, arch length, or a number of a tooth in a dentition of a patient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller unit is configured to output one or more of a treatment description, a treatment goal, a time to complete the treatment, a difficulty level, or an example of the treatment option. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller unit is further configured to compare at least a portion of the patient identifier with one or more reference identifiers, wherein each of the one or more reference identifiers includes an initial reference dentition and a final reference dentition, to select at least one reference identifier from the one or more reference identifiers, wherein the selected reference identifier includes the portion of the patient identifier, and to determine a final patient dentition based on the final reference dentition corresponding to the selected reference identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further including a terminal operatively coupled to the controller unit, the terminal configured to transmit one or more of the initial patient condition. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the terminal is further configured to include a display unit. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a set of instructions executable to:
 access a database including one or more reference conditions in each of a plurality of dentition categories, each reference condition including a corresponding first value;   determine a similar reference condition to an initial patient condition in each of the plurality of dentition categories by:
 comparing the initial patient condition in each of the plurality of dentition categories with the one or more reference conditions in each of the plurality of dentition categories; and 
 receiving a selection of at least one reference condition in one or more of the plurality of dentition categories that is similar to the initial patient condition in a same dentition category; and 
   generate a patient identifier matrix including a plurality of positions, wherein:
 each of the plurality of positions corresponds to one of the plurality of dentition categories; and 
 each of the plurality of positions includes a second value equal to the first value of the selected reference condition for the corresponding one of the plurality of dentition categories. 
   
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of dentition categories include at least two of: sagittal, vertical, horizontal, arch length, or a number of a tooth in a dentition of a patient. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of categories are applied to at least two of: initial condition, treatment goal, final condition, during treatment condition, or post-treatment condition. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 14 , further including instructions executable to define a treatment goal wherein the treatment goal is not ideal in at least one dimensional component of sagittal, vertical, horizontal, or arch length. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further including instructions executable to generate one or more of a treatment description, a time to complete the treatment, a difficulty level, or an example of the treatment option. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 14 , further comprising instructions executable to:
 compare at least a portion of the patient identifier with one or more reference identifiers, wherein each of the one or more reference identifiers includes an initial reference dentition and a final reference dentition;   receive a selection of at least one reference identifier from the one or more reference identifiers, wherein the selected reference identifier includes the portion of the patient identifier; and   determine a final patient dentition based on the final reference dentition corresponding to the selected reference identifier.   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 19 , further comprising instructions executable to:
 compare at least a portion of the patient identifier and a treatment goal with one or more reference identifiers, wherein each of the one or more reference identifiers includes an initial reference dentition and a treatment goal reference identifier; and   determine a patient dentition goal based on the final reference dentition corresponding to the selected reference identifier.