Method and apparatus for orthodontic appliance optimization

A method for arch wire receptacle optimization, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a digital model of an orthodontic structure of an orthodontic patient and storing the digital model in a memory of a computer;
• b) retrieving a digital model of an initial arch wire receptacle from said memory that was selected from a plurality of digital models of arch wire receptacles;
• c) digitally simulating the placing of the digital model of the initial arch wire receptacle on a given tooth of the digital model of the orthodontic structure to provide a digital simulated arch wire receptacle placement and displaying said digital simulated arch wire receptacle placement and said digital model of the orthodontic structure with said computer;
• d) retrieving a digital model of an arch wire from said memory;
• e) for the given tooth, digitally modeling with the computer the forces applied to the tooth by a force system comprising at least the digital model of the initial arch wire receptacle, the digital simulated arch wire receptacle placement, and the digital model of the arch wire and displaying resulting simulated tooth movement with said computer for evaluation;
• f) digitally modeling a bonding agent, wherein the bonding agent is used to secure the initial archwire receptacle to a given tooth of the orthodontic structure;
• and
• g) when the forces applied to the tooth are non-optimal, said computer digitally modifying the components of the force system to achieve an optimal force system.

A method for arch wire receptacle optimization, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a digital model of an orthodontic structure of an orthodontic patient;
• b) deriving a digital model of an arch wire receptacle based on a digital model of an arch wire, a desired force system, and a bonding agent to produce a derived arch wire receptacle;
• c) searching a plurality of digital models of arch wire receptacles for at least one closest match arch wire receptacle to the derived arch wire receptacle;
• d) determining whether the at least one closest match arch wire receptacle will support the desired force system within acceptable limits;
• and
• e) when the at least one closest match arch wire receptacle will support the desired force system within acceptable limits, prescribing the at least one closest match arch wire receptacle for treating the orthodontic patient.

An apparatus for arch wire receptacle optimization, the apparatus comprises:

• a processing module;
• and
• memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that causes, or with the assistance of a user of said processing module enables, the processing module to (a) obtain a digital model of an orthodontic structure of an orthodontic patient;
• (b) derive a digital model of an arch wire receptacle based on a digital model of an arch wire, a desired force system, and a bonding agent to produce a derived arch wire receptacle;
• (c) search a plurality of digital models of arch wire receptacles for at least one closest match arch wire receptacle to the derived arch wire receptacle;
• and (d) assist said user to determine whether the at least one closest match arch wire receptacle will support the desired force system within acceptable limits;
• whereby when the at least one closest match arch wire receptacle will support the desired force system within acceptable limits the at least one closest match arch wire receptacle may be prescribed for treating the orthodontic patient.