System and method of treatment for correcting tooth malocclusions

Abstract

The method and system provides a variable platform for Virtual Reality Orthodontics (VRO), which can be provided virtually to a patient without the patient having to be examined, in-person, by a dentist or orthodontist. Treatment can be rendered that includes clear aligner therapy, wire therapy or a hybrid/combo treatment involving both to treat patients' malocclusions in a virtual setting as opposed to the patients being treated in traditional and conventional orthodontic care facilities, requiring less in-office visits by the patients. The method and system utilizes and embraces dental professionals for patient care to assist licensed dental professionals to provide treatment while under the scrutiny of orthodontists. Patient care and progress can be monitored with the assistance of artificial intelligence and by review of dental professionals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a patient with removable teeth aligners, wherein the patient is suffering from tooth position abnormalities, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the patient has a correctable tooth position abnormality by:
 obtaining or having obtained a digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient; and 
 performing or having performed an analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient by a first licensed dental professional to determine whether the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality; 
 if the first licensed dental professional determines the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality, verifying or having verified, by a second licensed dental professional, the first licensed dental professional's determination that the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality; and 
 if the second licensed dental professional verifies the first licensed dental professional's determination that the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality, then: 
 if the patient correctable tooth position abnormality is determined to be a minor correctable tooth position abnormality, providing a plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the patient for one to two weeks and for at least 20 hours/day, and 
 if the patient correctable tooth position abnormality is determined to be a major correctable tooth position abnormality, then providing a plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the patient for one to two weeks and for at least 20 hours/day; and 
 if it is determined that the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality, then upon completion of the administering of either the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners or the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners, providing a final removable teeth aligner based at least partially on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which is to be administered to the teeth of the patient for at least 12 hours/day and lifetime wear. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining or having obtained the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 obtaining or having obtained a physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient using a dental impression material; and   digitally scanning the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient to create an indirect, digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the obtaining or having obtained the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient using the dental impression material comprises one of:
 obtaining the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient by a dentist;   obtaining the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient by the patient making the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient; and   obtaining the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient at a dental scan center.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining or having obtained the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 obtaining or having obtained an intraoral 3-dimensional digital scan of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which is then used to create a direct, digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing or having performed the analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient by the first licensed dental professional to determine whether the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality further comprises:
 performing or having performed the analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient by the first licensed dental professional to determine whether the patient has a minor correctable tooth position abnormality, a major correctable tooth position abnormality, or an uncorrectable tooth position abnormality.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the first licensed dental professional's determination that the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality comprises:
 verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the first licensed dental professional's determination whether the patient has the minor correctable tooth position abnormality, the major correctable tooth position abnormality, or the uncorrectable tooth position abnormality.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 providing the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners to incrementally correct the minor correctable tooth position abnormality with the patient wearing each of the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners in a predetermined order.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 providing the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners in to incrementally correct the major correctable tooth position abnormality with the patient wearing each of the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners a predetermined order.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the final removable teeth aligner based at least partially on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 providing a final retainer configured to maintain a final tooth position achieved by the patient wearing either the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners or the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the first licensed dental professional determines the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality, and before the verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the method further comprising:
 designing, by the first licensed dental professional, a plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners and a prescribed treatment plan for the patient.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the method further comprising:
 verifying, by the second licensed dental professional, the designed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners and the prescribed treatment plan for the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the method further comprises:
 verifying, by the second licensed dental professional, the designed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners and the prescribed treatment plan for the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing the plurality of either the minor or the major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient further comprises:
 receiving approval from a State evaluator for the designed plurality of either the minor or the major differently configured, removable teeth aligners and the prescribed treatment plan for the patient;   receiving approval from a third dental professional of the actual, manufactured plurality of either the minor or the major differently configured, removable teeth aligners; and   providing the plurality of either the minor or the major differently configured, removable teeth aligners to the patient.   
     
     
         14 . A method for treating a patient with removable teeth aligners and braces and wire therapy, wherein the patient is diagnosed as suffering from tooth position abnormalities, the method comprising:
 determining whether the patient has a correctable tooth position abnormality by:
 obtaining or having obtained a digital 3-dimensional mold or an image of the mouth and teeth of the patient; and 
 performing or having performed an analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold or the image of the mouth and teeth of the patient by a first licensed dental professional to determine whether the patient qualifies with a healthy dentition and has the correctable tooth position abnormality; 
 if the first licensed dental professional determines the patient has the healthy dentition and has the correctable tooth position abnormality, verifying or having verified, by a second licensed dental professional, the first licensed dental professional's determination that the patient has the healthy dentition and has the correctable tooth position abnormality; 
 if the second licensed dental professional verifies the first licensed dental professional's determination that the patient has the healthy dentition and has the correctable tooth position abnormality, then: 
 if the patient correctable tooth position abnormality is determined to be a minor abnormality, providing a first prescribed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the patient for one to two weeks and for at least 20 hours/day; or, 
 if the patient correctable tooth position abnormality is determined to be a major correctable tooth position abnormality, providing a second prescribed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the patient for one to two weeks and for at least 20 hours/day; or, 
 if the patient correctable tooth position abnormality is determined to be greater than the major abnormality, then, first, affixing braces and wires to the patient's teeth for a predetermined prescribed amount of time and then at an end of the predetermined prescribed amount of time removing the braces and wires, and, second, following the removal of the braces and wires, providing a third prescribed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the patient for one to two weeks and for at least 20 hours/day; and 
 if it is determined that the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality, then upon completion of the administering of each of either the first prescribed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners, the second prescribed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners, or the third prescribed plurality of differently configured, removable teeth aligners, providing a final removable teeth aligner based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which is to be administered to the teeth of the patient for at least 12 hours/day and lifetime wear. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the obtaining or having obtained the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 obtaining or having obtained a physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient using a dental impression material; and   digitally scanning the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient to create an indirect, digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the obtaining or having obtained the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient using the dental impression material comprises one of:
 obtaining the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient by a dentist;   the patient making the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient; and   obtaining the physical negative impression of the mouth and teeth of the patient at a dental scan center.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the obtaining or having obtained the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 obtaining or having obtained an intraoral 3-dimensional digital scan of the mouth and teeth of the patient, which is then used to create a direct, digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the performing or having performed the analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient by the first licensed dental professional to determine whether the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality further comprises:
 performing or having performed the analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient by the first licensed dental professional to determine whether the patient has a minor correctable tooth position abnormality, a major correctable tooth position abnormality, a greater than major correctable tooth position abnormality, or an uncorrectable tooth position abnormality.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the first licensed dental professional's determination that the patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality comprises:
 verifying or having verified, by the second licensed dental professional, the first licensed dental professional's determination whether the patient has the minor correctable tooth position abnormality, the major correctable tooth position abnormality, the greater than major correctable tooth position abnormality, or the uncorrectable tooth position abnormality.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the providing the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 providing the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners to incrementally correct the patient minor correctable tooth position abnormality with the patient wearing of each of the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners in a predetermined order.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the providing the final removable teeth aligner based at least partially on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the patient comprises:
 providing a final retainer configured to maintain a final tooth position achieved by the patient wearing the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners in the predetermined order.   
     
     
         22 . A method for diagnosing, providing aligners for, and treating tooth position malocclusions comprising:
 providing an integrated treatment platform configured to be used by at least one patient, at least one dental professional, at least one dental service provider, and at least one dental device manufacturer for diagnosing, providing aligners for, and treating the at least one patient with tooth position malocclusions;   using the integrated treatment platform to directly onboard the at least one patient through direct marketing efforts, enable the at least one dental professional and the at least one dental service provider to enter the at least one patient with tooth position malocclusions into the integrated treatment platform to be diagnosed with, provided aligners for, and treated for the tooth position malocclusions;   determining through the integrated treatment platform whether the at least one patient has correctable tooth position malocclusions by:
 obtaining or having obtained through the integrated treatment platform a digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient; and 
 performing or having performed through the integrated treatment platform an analysis of the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient by a first licensed dental professional to determine whether the at least one patient has the correctable tooth position malocclusions; 
 if the first licensed dental professional determines the at least one patient has the correctable tooth position malocclusions, verifying or having verified by a second licensed dental professional through the integrated treatment platform the first licensed dental professional determination that the at least one patient has the correctable tooth position malocclusions; and 
 if the second licensed dental professional verifies the first licensed dental professional determination that the at least one patient has the correctable tooth position malocclusions, then: 
 if the at least one patient correctable tooth position malocclusions is determined to be a minor correctable tooth position malocclusions, then:
 creating through the integrated treatment platform a 3-dimensional design for a plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient; and 
 providing through the integrated treatment platform the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the at least one patient for a first predetermined number of days and for a first predetermined number of hours per day, and 
 
 if the at least one patient correctable tooth position abnormality is determined to be a major correctable tooth position abnormality, then:
 creating through the integrated treatment platform a 3-dimensional design for a plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient; 
 sending through the integrated treatment platform the 3-dimensional design for the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners to an aligner manufacturer, so the aligner manufacturer can manufacture the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the 3-dimensional design; 
 sending through the integrated treatment platform a notice that a physical set of the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the 3-dimensional design are complete and are being sent to a third licensed dental professional for a quality review and approval; 
 approving through the integrated treatment platform by the third licensed dental professional of the physical set of the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners; and 
 providing through the integrated treatment platform the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners based on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient, which are each to be administered to the teeth of the at least one patient for a second predetermined number of days and for a second predetermined number of hours per day; and 
 
   if it is determined that the at least one patient has the correctable tooth position abnormality, then upon completion of the administering of either the plurality of minor differently configured, removable teeth aligners or the plurality of major differently configured, removable teeth aligners, providing through the integrated treatment platform a final removable teeth aligner based at least partially on the digital 3-dimensional mold of the mouth and teeth of the at least one patient, which is to be administered to the teeth of the at least one patient for a third predetermined number of hours/day and lifetime wear.