Abstract
This study’s aim was to develop and validate an approach to automatically extract and reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) digital root models from in vivo teeth based on the anatomical characteristics of the periodontal ligament using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data. Prior to undergoing dental extractions for orthodontic purposes, the CBCT data of each study participant were collected and imported into Mimics software to reconstruct 3D in vivo digital root models (test models). Twenty roots of 17 teeth extracted from the study’s participants were scanned using a dental scanner to obtain 3D in vitro digital root models (reference models). The 3D morphological deviation between the reference and test models was compared; the 3D size of the bucco-lingual, mesio-distal, and root length dimensions were calculated. This approach achieved an average 3D morphological deviation of 0.21 mm, and the average size error in the bucco-lingual, mesio-distal, and root length dimensions were −0.35 mm, −0.17 mm, and 0.47 mm, respectively. This new automatic extraction approach rapidly and accurately reconstructs 3D in vivo root models with detailed morphological information, and has the potential to improve diagnostic and treatment work flow in orthodontic clinics, as well as in other areas of dentistry.
Highlights
With the development of digital dentistry, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been widely used in the diagnosis and analysis of oral diseases[1,2,3], especially when combined with image segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technologies in digital software, which make 3D measurements of in vivo teeth possible[4,5,6]
The objective of this study was to explore and evaluate a new approach for rapidly reconstructing a 3D digital root model of an in vivo tooth from large field-of-view CBCT data. This approach is based on the anatomical characteristics of the periodontal ligament, with the combined application of Morphology and Boolean Operations, and Smart Expand mathematical functions in Mimics software, an advanced medical imaging software with reliable algorithms and functions being used in oral clinics
Low-dose radiation CBCT is commonly used in oral clinics and image information for the upper and lower jaw, including the tooth crowns and roots, and alveolar bone can be obtained under large field resolution[22]
Summary
With the development of digital dentistry, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been widely used in the diagnosis and analysis of oral diseases[1,2,3], especially when combined with image segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technologies in digital software, which make 3D measurements of in vivo teeth possible[4,5,6]. The objective of this study was to explore and evaluate a new approach for rapidly reconstructing a 3D digital root model of an in vivo tooth from large field-of-view CBCT data This approach is based on the anatomical characteristics of the periodontal ligament, with the combined application of Morphology and Boolean Operations, and Smart Expand mathematical functions in Mimics software, an advanced medical imaging software with reliable algorithms and functions being used in oral clinics. This approach can achieve fast and automatic root differentiation from alveolar bone with very few human interventions, and has the advantage of high automation and efficiency, as well as acceptable accuracy
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