When an orthodontist takes on digital workflow, it’s easy to focus on the orthodontic side of the work but miss the digital side. Much like software development, digital orthodontics takes advantage of digital platforms and software to create computer-designed treatment plans. CAD work is, in essence, coding. Coding is using a computer programming language to give instructions on what actions to perform. Coding a treatment plan in an orthodontic platform will lead to appliance development delivered to the patient. This appliance is an orthodontic delivery system of digital instructions written using one of many digital platforms.
Detailed design leads to quality results
We often miss the subtle art of treatment design when evaluating digital orthodontic appliances. Whether that appliance is a fixed appliance or a clear aligner, the digital design quality is critical to its success and the intended treatment objectives. Simply paying for the platform and using its tools is not a recipe for success. Many digital orthodontic companies offer a great framework to access appliance design. We code by writing digital prescriptions, using 3D controls, or typing commands to modify a computer-rendered visual treatment design. Ultimately, the doctor’s skill and mastery of the platform lead to quality results.
For example, the quality of a digital treatment plan is the main reason why a ClinCheck® can vary from a predictable result to a fantasy movie film. Simply using ClinCheck or Invisalign® does not make treatment a guaranteed success. Adding to this misunderstanding, we often read peer-reviewed literature lacking detail in the treatment protocols and digital design. Meanwhile, we know little about what code is in the treatment plan to deliver results. The doctor is coding using the ClinCheck software and the Invisalign aligner hardware to achieve outcomes.
Orthodontic literature often judges the product results to see if “it works” and misses the real opportunity to share valuable research: It is not the instrument that delivers outcomes, but the detailed design of the appliance that provides quality results. That coding should include final tooth positions, staging, and force systems. We should be looking at effective coding that leads to the best results in digital orthodontics, just like we look at masterful craft and techniques in traditional orthodontic methodology.
