Volumetric tomography – a new tomographic technique for panoramic units

Abstract

To introduce a new three-dimensional dental imaging technique named volumetric tomography (VT). The new VT imaging method utilizes an iterative frequency-based reconstruction technique. With iterative algorithms each voxel value is defined multiple times during reconstruction. Computation time is therefore relatively lengthy. However, multicore processors and graphic board programming reduce the reconstruction time, making it possible to utilize this iterative reconstruction technique in clinical practice. The new VT technique is an add-on to a standard panoramic unit (Orthopantomograph OP 200 D; Instrumentarium Oy, Tuusula, Finland). Unit enhancements include a device for patient positioning and additional software. Preliminary clinical examinations have been performed. Examinations demonstrated that the new VT technique gives satisfactory volumetric patient data from which tomographs may be derived for different clinical applications. The new VT method may be employed when tomographic examinations are required for dental clinical work.