A modern approach to the diagnosis of orthodontic patients using a computer program “Assessment of the position of teeth and dentition relative to the lp point”

BACKGROUND: Currently, the most important direction in the field of orthodontics is the improvement of existing and the development of new tools for the diagnosis of dental anomalies. Although there are many ways to assess the occlusion of dentition, but this issue remains relevant in the daily practice of a dentist.

AIM: Study is to develop a computer program for rapid diagnosis of the position of teeth and dentition without X-ray examination of patients at the initial consultation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 patients aged 18–44 with mesial occlusion were examined using anthropometric and radiological methods. The sizes of teeth and dentition were measured on plaster models. Telerentgenography of the head in a lateral projection and further analysis proposed at the Department of Orthodontics of the A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State Medical University were performed. The data was used for comparison with calculations obtained using a computer program developed by us.

RESULTS: The computer program “Diagnostics of the position of teeth and dentition relative to the coordinate point” makes it possible to estimate the size of the dentition and position of the upper jaw relative to the lower one in the sagittal and transversal positions. At the same time, the accuracy of the diagnostics performed will not be inferior to similar computer programs. The simplicity of the analysis allows it to be used as an express diagnosis in planning treatment.

CONCLUSION: This computer program simplifies the work of an orthodontist, allowing patients with various dental ano- malies to perform express diagnostics based on modern methods and facilitating the choice of treatment tactics. Reduces the burden on the patient without subjecting him to additional X-ray irradiation during the initial consultation, while the accuracy of diagnosis will not be inferior to similar computer programs. Allows you to evaluate not only the size of the dentition, but the position of the lower dentition in the sagittal and transversal positions.