Since the early thirties of the last century the classical patient documentation consisted of a lateral headfilm, orthopantomogram, facial and dental photographs and plaster casts. But nowadays digital technology is conquering the world and thus orthodontists are increasingly adding digital technology to their clinical records. Besides these exciting technical modalities more diagnostic possibilities may arise from new biological insights of the fundamental processes in orthodontics. This lecture will focus on the clinical values of modern diagnostics for daily orthodontic practice.