Method for providing orthodontic treatment

Abstract

A method for orthodontic treatment is provided. The method comprises obtaining feedback data including patient feedback data points collected by fitting an orthodontic appliance configured to apply a force to a tooth of a patient and indicating a level of discomfort experienced by the patient, wherein the force is a function of a critical force that is specific to the patient, correlating the level of discomfort to the force applied to the tooth of the patient, and, determining whether or not the feedback data is optimized for determining a target orthodontic force for orthodontic treatment that is an optimal orthodontic force based on the critical force.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 143,907, filed on 7 Jan. 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to methods for providing orthodontic treatment.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0003]Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth and jaws. These irregularities may affect the oral health, as well as possibly the physical, aesthetic and / or mental wellbeing of affected individuals.[0004]Tooth positioning and orofacial bone structures can be altered using manual, mechanical systems, generally consisting of a combination of, for example, wires, brackets, bands, chains, springs and elastics, a system commonly referred to as “dental braces” or simply “braces”. Similarly, orthodontic treatment and repositioning of tooth and bone structures can be achieved usi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]The optimal orthodontic force may achieve the least level of discomfort while still resulting in orthodontic tooth movement. The optimal orthodontic force may optimize a balance of patient comfort and treatment outcome.

Problems solved by technology

These irregularities may affect the oral health, as well as possibly the physical, aesthetic and / or mental wellbeing of affected individuals.

It is generally accepted that a force of zero magnitude will not induce any tooth movement, whereas a force of excessive magnitude might damage cells surrounding the tooth and may also cause root resorption and excessive patient discomfort.

Firstly, the majority of orthodontic systems rely purely on mechanical components, which allow for little or no control once put in place.

Furthermore, many of the components used, which as stated above include, amongst others, springs, wires and elastic bands, do not accurately generate a constant desired force over a longer period of time or over a specified distance, largely due to the physical characteristics of these components.

The result of other than optimal forces being applied to the orofacial structures can induce the problems mentioned above.

Conventionally, the ability to control the forces transmitted to the teeth by an orthodontic appliance was one of the biggest challenges.

To the applicant's knowledge, however, it has not yet been possible to quantitatively describe such an optimal force.

Without proper definition of these parameters, the models cannot be used to determine an optimal orthodontic force that is patient- and tooth-specific.

Based on the data from a number of studies of which the applicant is aware, it was concluded that the reviewed experimental results were negatively affected by, amongst others, the inability to accurately calculate stresses in the periodontal ligament of a given tooth, the inability to control the type of tooth movement, the different phases of tooth movement during an applied force and large inter-individual variations or even variations within individuals.

As a result, no exact ideal force magnitude could be recommended.

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