NEW TWIST BEFORE BRACING DOLPHIN'S ORTHODONTIC SOFTWARE CAN PLOT TOOTH MOVES.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

CHATSWORTH - Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions is helping orthodontists smile a little easier.

The days of probing a patient's mouth without the ability to visually predict the movement of teeth are gone. Now, orthodontists can sit down with a patient and essentially sculpt a virtual image of their incisors before cementing a single brace.

And while the ability to track teeth has been around for decades, companies like Dolphin are now developing software that appeals to an even broader audience.

In a conference room at Dolphin's Chatsworth-based headquarters, a screen portrays the image of a human face with several numbers plotted throughout the cheek and mouth. This virtual connect-the-dots depiction allows an orthodontist to reshape the face with just a few swipes of the mouse.

``If you want a larger chin, we can do that. If you want to know what happens when you move someone's front teeth, the software can easily do that for you, too,'' said Chester Wang, Dolphin's director.

As the ability to morph one's face becomes almost commonplace, Wang envisions opportunities beyond orthodontics. But for the time being, he's focused on improving demand for Dolphin's current products - specifically, the ability to organize an orthodontist's office.

Dolphin and dozens of other companies are clamoring to install their patient management software at orthodontists' offices across the nation. That's because companies can then sell generations of upgrades to improve efficiencies for both doctors and patients, according to Dr. Don Joondeph, a faculty member at the University of Washington who also sits on the American Association of Orthodontists' board of trustees.

``These products really help in terms of communicating well with patients and other professionals,'' he said. ``But many of these programs are often expensive.''

The price to manage patients efficiently is usually well spent, though. Maira Rodriguez, office manager at Ingrid Scoble DDS in Mission Hills, depends on the software for her own peace of mind. Instead of Dolphin, she uses Ortho II to manage patients' paperwork.

``It helps keep all of our files organized. And it's also easy to make appointments and update patients with information,'' Rodriguez said.

Generally costing between $10,000 and $15,000, depending on the extent of the software, many orthodontists are also beginning to install flat- screen monitors to accompany patient chairs.

``All of these things are worth the time and money in the end,'' Joondeph said. ``Because when you have the ability to communicate with patients more efficiently, they are going to be happier in the long run.''

Evan Pondel, [phone]

evan.pondel(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Chester H. Wang, director of Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions based in Chatsworth, demonstrates the company's software for orthodontists, showing how a patient's mouth will look once the problem teeth are properly placed.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer