Method and apparatus for site treatment of an orthodontic patient

A method for site treating an orthodontic patient, the method comprises the steps of:

• a) generating digital information regarding the orthodontic patient;
• b) transmitting the digital information to an orthodontic server;
• c) receiving a digital version of an initial treatment plan, wherein the initial treatment plan was generated by the orthodontic server from the digital information, wherein the initial treatment plan includes precise steps to obtain a desired orthodontic structure;
• d) updating the digital information after placement of brackets of an orthodontic apparatus, wherein the orthodontic apparatus was designed in accordance with one of the precise steps;
• e) transmitting the updated digital information to the orthodontic server and
• f) further updating the digital information after replacement of the brackets when the placement of at least one of the brackets exceeds the given tolerance.

A method for site treating an orthodontic patient, the method comprises the steps of:

• a) scanning the orthodontic patient's mouth to obtain video data of the patient's orthodontic structure, wherein the step of scanning is performed after initial placement of an orthodontic appliance onto the orthodontic structure in accordance with an initial treatment plan generated by an orthodontic server, and where the orthodontic appliance includes at least one bracket;
• b) converting the video data into a three-dimensional image of the orthodontic patient's orthodontic structure and the at least one bracket as placed on the orthodontic structure;
• and
• c) transmitting digital information to the orthodontic server, wherein the digital information includes the three-dimensional image and the at least one bracket as placed on the orthodontic structure;
• d) whereby the orthodontic server may compare the three dimensional image with the initial treatment plan to determine whether an adjustment to the initial treatment plan needs to be made.

A system for site treating an orthodontic patient, the system comprises:

• a processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:
• (a) generate digital information regarding the orthodontic patient including a three-dimensional image of orthodontic structure of the patient;
• (b) transmit the digital information to an orthodontic server;
• (c) receive a digital version of an initial treatment plan, wherein the initial treatment plan was generated by the orthodontic server from the digital information, wherein the initial treatment plan includes precise steps to obtain a desired orthodontic structure;
• (d) update the digital information after placement of brackets of an orthodontic apparatus, wherein the orthodontic apparatus was designed in accordance with one of the precise steps, and wherein the updated digital information includes a three-dimensional image of the orthodontic structure and the brackets placed on the orthodontic structure;
• and (e) transmit the updated digital information to the orthodontic server.