Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

projecting a plurality of reference images at a first area within a display unit, wherein each of the plurality of reference images represents a different state of an orthodontic condition to enable selection of one or more of the plurality of reference images that represent a patient's state of the orthodontic condition, wherein each of the plurality of reference images are projected in a same view, and wherein each different state represents a level of severity of the orthodontic condition;

selecting a first reference image of the plurality of reference images on the display unit;

projecting the first reference image at a second area within the display unit;

selecting a second reference image of the plurality of reference images on the display unit;

projecting the second reference image at the second area within the display unit such that a difference between the first reference image and the second reference image is displayed at the second area within the display unit; and

toggling between projecting the first reference image and projecting the second reference image such that the first reference image is displayed in the second area for a first time period and the second reference image is displayed in the second area for a second time period, wherein the first time period and the second time period at least partially overlap.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein projecting the second image at the second area within the display unit includes projecting the second image within a predetermined time after projecting the first image.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein projecting the second image within the predetermined time after projecting the first image includes projecting the second image within a time that the difference between the first and second images is shown in the predetermined area.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first and second time periods completely overlap.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising projecting the first and second images as outline profiles of the respective first and second images.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is graphically associated with the second image.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein projecting the first image includes projecting an enlarged state of the first image, and wherein projecting the second image includes projecting an enlarged state of the second image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second image is superimposed over the first image in the second area.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the first image and/or the second reference image in varying degrees of translucency.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising projecting the first and second reference images as shadow profiles of the respective first and second images.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an input device; and

a display unit operatively coupled to the input device, the display unit configured to:

display a plurality of reference images at a first area, wherein each of the plurality of reference images represents a different state of an orthodontic condition to enable selection of one or more of the plurality of reference images that represent a patient's state of the orthodontic condition, wherein each of the plurality of reference images are displayed in a same view, and wherein each different state represents a level of severity of the orthodontic condition;

display a first image of the plurality of reference images at a second area with a second image of the plurality of reference images superimposed thereon in response to an input command received from the input device; and

adjust the display of the first reference image and/or the second reference image in varying degrees of translucency such that a difference between the first reference image and the second reference image is displayed at the second area.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the display unit is configured to display the plurality of reference images at the first area in response to a selection of the orthodontic condition made via the input device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first reference image is graphically associated with the second reference image.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the display unit is further configured to display an enlarged state of the first reference image in the second area, and further, wherein the display unit is further configured to display an enlarged state of the second reference image.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the display unit is configured to replace the image displayed in the second area in response to the input command received from the input device such that a difference between the first and second reference images is shown in the second area when the displayed images are being replaced.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the display unit is further configured to display the first reference image and/or the second reference image with shadow profile or an outline profile.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the display unit is further configured to toggle between displaying the first reference image and displaying the second reference image such that a difference between the first and second reference images is displayed in the second area.