Dentition score

Abstract

Methods, systems, algorithms, and uses for dentition scores having clinical applicability for an individual patient are described herein. The scores increase as a condition worsens and decrease with treatment. The score can be used to communicate the status of a patient's dentitions to the patient, to an insurer, or to another health care professional.

1 . A method for describing a status of an individual's teeth over time, the method comprising:
 classifying, by one or more computer systems, the teeth in an individual's dentition based on the status of each individual tooth;   classifying, by the one or more computer systems, missing teeth in the individual's dentition based on the method of prosthetic tooth replacement;   determining a number of teeth in an individual's dentition that are optimal for the individual;   determining a number of teeth in an individual's dentition that are visible;   calculating, by one or more computer systems, based on at least some of the classifications and determinations, a caries score associated with the extent of teeth in the individual's dentition affected by decay; and   calculating, by one or more computer systems, based on at least some of the classifications and determinations, a prosthetic score associated with the status of the individual's dentition related to prosthetic tooth replacement;   storing the caries score and the prosthetic score;   retrieving previously stored caries scores and prosthetic scores for the individual; and   generating a graph of the changes in the individual's caries score and prosthetic score over time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein classifying the teeth in an individual's dentition comprises classifying each tooth in the individual's dentition as one or more of natural, carious, restored, or missing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein classifying the missing teeth in the individual's dentition comprises classifying each missing tooth in the individual's dentition as one of a fixed prosthetic tooth, a removable prosthetic tooth, not replaced but needed for an optimal dentition, or not needed to be replaced for an optimal dentition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an increasing caries score is correlated to a worsening condition in which the individual's dentition includes an increased number of teeth in need of treatment; and
 a decreasing caries score indicates successful treatment of carious lesions in the individual's dentition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an increasing prosthetic score is correlated to a worsening condition in which the individual's dentition includes an increased number of missing teeth that need to be replaced; and   a decreasing prosthetic score indicates successful replacement of needed missing teeth in the individual's dentition.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removal of a carious tooth from the individual's dentition increases the individual's prosthetic score and decreases the individual's caries score. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the caries score includes a first digit associated with a percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition in need of treatment and a second digit associated with a percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition previously treated for a carious condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic score includes a first digit associated with the magnitude of need to replace teeth in the individual's dentition and a second digit associated with a percentage of prosthetic teeth that comprise a dentition that is optimal for the individual. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the caries score further comprises:
 calculating a percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition with caries;   calculating a percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition previously restored from a carious condition;   determining a carious value for carious teeth based on the calculated percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition with caries;   determining a restored value for restored teeth based on the calculated percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition previously restored from a carious condition; and   determining the caries score based on the carious value and the restored value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the prosthetic score comprises:
 determining a percentage of teeth in the individual's dentition in need of replacement;   determining a value for tooth replacement; and   calculating the prosthetic score based on the determined values.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a table classifying potential caries scores into at least three classifications related to the health of the individual's dentition, wherein the at least three classifications include:
 a first classification including a caries score associated with natural health of the dentition;   a second classification including a first range of caries scores associated with previous carious conditions that have been fully restored; and   a third classification including a second range of caries scores indicating existing disease and need for treatment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a table classifying potential prosthetic scores into at least three classifications related to the health of the individual's dentition, wherein the at least three classifications include:   a first classification including a prosthetic score associated with an optimal and natural health of the dentition;   a second classification including a first range of prosthetic scores associated with previous tooth loss conditions that have been fully prosthetically repaired; and   a third classification including a second range of prosthetic scores indicating existing tooth loss that is in need of prosthetic treatment.   
     
     
         14 . A method for generating a caries score for communicating the status of an individual's dentition, the method comprising:
 retrieving, by one or more computer systems, a stored historical caries score for the individual;   calculating, by the one or more computer systems, a caries score based on a current status of the individual's dentition, wherein the calculation generates an increased caries score with increased need and decreased caries score with effective treatment; and   comparing the caries score to the historical caries score, and   communicating a change in the status of the individual's dentition based on the comparison of the caries score to the historical caries score where in increased score indicates a worsening condition and a decreased score indicates a decrease in need for treatment.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled)