Computers In Orthodontics Question And Answers

Computers In Orthodontics

Question 1. Write short note on computers in orthodontics.
Answer. Following are the role of computers in orthodontics:

Practice Management

• Orthodontic practice management is basically the application or software which is used for operation and management of orthodontic clinics.
• Such applications include appointment arrangement, charting of patient, electronic patient recording and usage of the electronic patient identification cards.
• Mainly the applications apply the database techniques to computerize data which serves basis for the dental treatment.
• So in orthodontic practice management the applications incorporate practical computer techniques to traditional orthodontic treatment.

Digital Recording of Applications

• It deals both with the computer hardware and software for recording and visualizing information of patient in the electric form.
• Recording of information is done by using various devices such as digital camera, intraoral scanner, digitizer and computerized tomography scanner.
• In this, applications provide another level to analyze data for better diagnosis and treatment planning.

Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Applications

• Here two groups are made, i.e. one for dental model analysis and another for cephalometric analysis.
• Technique applied in these applications consists of expert systems, pattern recognition, processing of image both in 2D and 3D and surgical stimulation.
• Diagnosis and treatment planning applications require patient records along with treatment knowledge base which is the collection of orthodontic treatment cases.
• This application of computer knowledge base and data mining technique provides good justification on planning of treatment which is based on past success or failure of treatment.
• Greatest contribution of computers in field of orthodontics is forecast of growth from serial cephalograms.
• Computers are the very important tool when treatment if given by invisalign braces and robotics is used for archwire fabrication.

Read And Learn More: Orthodontics Question And Answers

Computer­assisted Learning

• As per the researches computer-assisted learning when used for teaching topics of orthodontics related to diagnosis and treatment planning are more effective as compared to conventional methods.
• Computer-assisted learning leads to additional and significant gain in knowledge of student and acquisition.
• Computers has also put a superb impact on presentation of papers in the conferences.
• Computers also aid in orthodontic research purposes.

Question 2. Write short note on digital photography in orthodontics.
Answer. Digital photography is a great revolution in the field of orthodontics.

• Digital photography replaces the traditional film by charged coupled device, i.e. CCD. This CCD sensor consists of thousands of light detectors known as pixels on its surface.
• As more is the number of pixels the quality and detail of the image is enhanced, but this increases the size of file in which the image is saved.
• For good image quality camera’s optical resolution should be evaluated, only actual CCD optical resolution should be considered.
• Hardware consists of flt bed scanner, slide scanner, video cameras and the digital still cameras.
• There are two main groups of digital cameras, i.e. compact digital cameras and professional reflex cameras with digital interface.
• As image is acquired by the CCD, it should be stored in memory of the camera as a file. Image files may be of different formats and they can be compressed. Compression leads to increase in number of the images which are stored in memory but this cause the decrease in image quality. Compression level should always be selected to save the image. It is done by selecting capture mode as FINE, NORMAL OR ECONOMY. For digital cameras to save the fie JPEG or TIFF fies are used, since these fies are easily read virtually by any of the imaging softare.
• Image storage is done by two types, i.e. internal memory and removable memory. Digital cameras having only internal memory and no removable memory are avoided. Removable memory should be used again and again.
• All of the images which are stored in the memory of digital camera is transferred to computer for archiving. There are two methods to transfer images from digital camera to computer, i.e.
  • Via cable connection: Many of digital cameras are connected to computer via a serial or parallel port. Disadvantage of this method is that it is slow. Serial transfer is more slower than parallel. Some of the cameras use small computer system interface port which is faster but not available on all the computers.
  • Transfer via removable memory through computer drive: This is the most convenient way to transfer the images to the computer.
• Digital view of computer technology currently enables the clinician to record anterior tooth, display during speech and smiling at the equivalent of 30 frames per second.

Question 3. Write short note on role of computers in orthodontic practice management.
Answer. Following the roles of computers in orthodontic practice management:

• Orthodontic practice management is basically the application or software which is used for operation and management of orthodontic clinics.
• Such applications include appointment arrangement, charting of patient, electronic patient recording and usage of the electronic patient identification cards.
• Mainly the applications apply the database techniques to computerize data which serves basis for the dental treatment.
• So in orthodontic practice management the applications incorporate practical computer technique to traditional orthodontic treatment.