That puts Insignia slightly behind a competing system, SureSmile by OraMetrix Inc., which also uses computers, three-dimensional imaging and robotics to make things easier and faster for both patient and doctor. And it's not just a two-way fight: Another computer-aided orthodontic system, Cadent OrthoCad, has been available in Central Florida since 2003.

At least two more companies will introduce similar high-tech systems within a year or two, predicted Smith, who has 48 patients at various stages of treatment with Insignia.

"This is just the beginning," Smith said.

Oviedo orthodontist Dr. David Lach, the first orthodontist in Florida to offer SureSmile, agrees such high-tech systems represent the future for his profession.

"I see this as a paradigm shift in orthodontics," Lach said. "Pliers will be things of the past. This is keyboard orthodontics that enhances the doctor's role," he added, giving orthodontists "full control and much more predictability."

Control and predictability start with three-dimensional imaging of the teeth. The images are fed into a computer and used to calculate the most efficient way to move the teeth to where they need to be. Robotic manufacturing is used to customize the hardware so the calculated movement is precisely followed.

Smith and Lach say the metal-and-bracket system is more versatile than Invisalign, another popular orthodontic system that relies on 3-D imaging and computers. Invisalign uses a series of nearly invisible plastic mouthpieces that move the teeth over time. Invisalign, however, doesn't work as fast and isn't as effective for more complicated orthodontic problems, the doctors agree.

They disagree, however, on the relative merits of their high-tech systems, which both use metal brackets and wires.

While Insignia uses computers and robots to custom-make brackets and wires, SureSmile relies on conventional brackets, using computers and robots to custom-make just the wires. Both promise to cut wearing time by as much as half, with a similar reduction in office visits.

Computer-assisted orthodontics should be a good deal for doctors, too, Smith predicted. While patients will see value in achieving better results with fewer office visits and less wearing time, doctors will be able to handle more volume because they are seeing patients less often.

The number of Americans wearing braces has more than doubled in the past 20 years, from 2.5 million in 1982 to 5.7 million in 2004, according to the American Academy of Orthodontics. More than a million orthodontic patients are adults.

Treatment typically takes from one to three years, with two being the average time span, according to the academy. It gives no average costs, but $5,000 is a widely accepted estimate.