Evolution of imaging and management systems in orthodontics

• Orthodontics has been harnessing computer and software technologies for more than 40 years.
• Orthodontists have historically been quick to embrace new technologies for enhancing workflow.
• Going forward, orthodontics advancements will be increasingly intertwined with technology.

Orthodontists have long been among the most progressive of the dental specialists, quick to embrace new technologies for enhancing clinical efficiencies and practice workflow. Orthodontic software innovations, whether for imaging and clinical applications or for managing the business side of a practice, have led the consistent need for more powerful computing requirements for more than 4 decades. This article recounts the history of how computers and orthodontic software have been used in America from their nascence to today and provides an outlook for the future.