Frequently Asked Questions
Browse through our most frequently asked questions to better understand how DR. ANNIE™ works and how it can support your orthodontic evaluations.
Q: How does this system expedite treatment planning?
A: It automates ceph tracing, Ricketts analysis, treatment sequencing, and aligns plans with the doctor’s style. Rather than manually entering measurements or decisions, the AI delivers a fully structured case, including movement sequencing and diagnosis within minutes.
Q: Can the AI adapt to individual doctor preferences?
A: Yes. While the system currently uses generalized models, it is designed to learn from each user’s treatment behavior. Over 6–12 months, the AI retrains on user-specific patterns to provide increasingly personalized outputs.
Q: What is the role of the HLD Index in this system?
A: The HLD Index is used to evaluate case difficulty automatically within 90 seconds. If a case scores above a certain threshold (e.g., 20+ points), it is flagged as complex indicating that an orthodontist should handle it. It serves as both a clinical guide and a filter.
Please be informed that the HLD will only applied for the Medicaid Insurance in US Region
Q: How does this compare to traditional staging methods?
A: Traditional methods involved sequential tooth movements (e.g., Ricketts utility arches), whereas the current aligner-based philosophy (like Ortho FX) favors simultaneous movement of all teeth at every stage. The practitioners prefer this model for its efficiency and reduced treatment time.
Q: Does this replace the orthodontist's clinical judgment?
A: No. The system supports clinical judgment by providing a second opinion, validating feasibility, and documenting rationale. Experienced orthodontists may not rely on tracings, but they still benefit from AI-driven models as confirmation and efficiency tools.
Q: Is this meant for orthodontists only, or also for general dentists (GPs)?
A: The system is designed to facilitate collaboration. GPs can handle straightforward cases with AI assistance, while orthodontists supervise, approve, or fully take over complex cases. This helps maintain standards in a world where GPs increasingly practice ortho.
Q: What is the VIP Report feature?
A: When AI cannot confidently process a case (due to anomalies like ectopic teeth, missing dentition, etc.), the VIP button sends the case to a human orthodontist for manual review and treatment planning. It ensures difficult cases still receive expert oversight.
Q: How does DR ANNIE™ help clinicians make faster and more consistent diagnoses?
A: The system rapidly analyzes intraoral and cephalometric data, generating a structured treatment rationale in just minutes. Such tools can help orthodontists and general dentists achieve more predictable results by integrating cephalometric analysis often overlooked in daily practice into a seamless workflow.
Q: What kind of reports does DR ANNIE™ generate, and how quickly?
A: There are multiple report types: Basic, Standard, Standard Plus, and VIP Premium. A standard plus report (with intraoral photos and lateral ceph) is generated in about 3 minutes, with the first sections available within the first 90 seconds. For complex cases, the VIP Premium option includes a human orthodontist’s review. Pricing ranges from $10 to $15 per case, with more discounts for the upper tier.
Q: What is the 'Narrative' and why does it take longer to process?
A: The Narrative is a GPT-powered feature that converts data into a natural-language explanation of the diagnosis and treatment plan. It includes details about skeletal pattern, growth, staging, and cephalometric findings. This part may take 8–10 minutes to complete because it synthesizes all variables into coherent clinical recommendations like whether to use elastics, extract teeth, or modify smile lines. This narrative particularly valuable for understanding and explaining complex cases.
Q: Can I trust the AI-generated landmarks and tracings?
A: The AI detects approximately 95% of points accurately. For legal and verification purposes, clinicians are still required to confirm the suggested landmarks. However, professionals can distinguish most cases can be quickly confirmed by just clicking through if no major anomalies are detected.
Q: How does the system handle complex or unusual cases?
A: For difficult cases (e.g., multiple impacted or missing teeth, severe skeletal issues), DR ANNIE™ includes a VIP review process. Clinicians can flag these cases, and a professional will manually review and clean up the analysis. This process can take 1–3 days depending on complexity.
Q: What’s the benefit of using DR ANNIE™ even for experienced clinicians?
A: Even experienced orthodontists may misjudge case difficulty. DR ANNIE™ can serve as a second opinion, offering fast, data-backed assessments to improve treatment planning, adjust patient fees, and communicate expectations more clearly. This evidence-based support can streamline consultations and reduce inconsistencies.
Q: How can DR ANNIE™ support collaboration with aligner companies?
A: The Narrative and sequencing steps can be directly copied and sent to aligner manufacturers. This ensures their first proposed setups are more realistic and require less manual adjustment. This reduces the back-and-forth in treatment planning and improves outcomes.
Q: How can staff assist in using DR ANNIE™ efficiently?
A: A clear in-office protocol is recommended. Staff can pre-check for warning signs in the HLD form (e.g., multiple impacted teeth, severe hygiene issues). If too many red flags appear, the case should be escalated to the VIP process. For most routine cases, staff can handle the verification process quickly using guided checklists.
Q: Is DR ANNIE™ scalable for larger practices or networks?
A: Currently, the infrastructure supports up to 80 simultaneous users. If usage grows, additional servers can be deployed—but this requires significant funding. Big organizations like OrthoFX and Dental Monitoring could support infrastructure scaling, as this system aligns perfectly with efforts to improve diagnostic standards globally.