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.

1 . A method comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the critical force is based on periodontal ligament (PDL) behavior data. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the level of discomfort is indicated on a scale with relation to the force as a function of the critical force. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback data is obtained during use or testing of the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback data is based on or includes rate of change data points measured while using the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback data includes treatment feedback data points having been obtained from use of the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optimal orthodontic force achieves the least level of discomfort while still resulting in orthodontic tooth movement. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optimal orthodontic force optimizes a balance of patient comfort and treatment outcome. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method repeats to obtain updated feedback data until the feedback data points of the feedback data are optimized. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , including determining the target orthodontic force by inputting the critical force into an algorithm. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the algorithm includes one or more of time, magnitude, patient characteristic and patient treatment components. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , including using the target orthodontic force to determine one or both of a stage force value and a stage movement value for one or more stages of orthodontic treatment. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , including using the target orthodontic force to determine configuration parameters for configuring an orthodontic appliance to apply a force which approximates the target orthodontic force. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the force that approximates the target orthodontic force is a stage force value. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the target orthodontic force is determined by inputting the critical force into an algorithm, the method including:
 if the feedback data is not optimized, updating the algorithm for determining an updated target orthodontic force; or,   if the feedback data is optimized, storing the algorithm as an optimal algorithm for use in determining a target orthodontic force that is the optimal orthodontic force.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the updated target orthodontic force is used to reconfigure the appliance or create a new appliance configured to apply the updated target orthodontic force. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein updating the algorithm iteratively updates the algorithm to optimize the feedback data. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein updating the algorithm includes adjusting weights of one or more components or variables of the algorithm.