A computer-vision technique for the acquisition and processing of 3-D profiles of dental imprints: an application in orthodontics

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 453 - 461
• Main Authors: Laurendeau, D., Guimond, L., Poussart, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-09-1991; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Absorption; Automation; Biological and medical sciences; Charge coupled devices; Charge-coupled image sensors; Computer vision; Dentistry; Dispersion; Filtering; Image segmentation; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Teeth; Medical imagery; Tooth; Dentistry; Three dimensional representation; Stomatology; Computerized processing
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/42.97596

The authors present a computer vision technique for the acquisition and processing of 3-D images of the profile of wax dental imprints in the automation of diagnosis in orthodontics. The acquisition of the 3-D images is based on the absorption of light by a dispersive medium and uses standard CCD (charge coupled device) cameras. The profiles of both sides of the imprint are acquired simultaneously. The 3-D image of each side of the imprint is segmented by nonlinear filtering of the 3-D data, and the interstices between the teeth are detected. Two operators are presented: one for the detection of the interstices between the teeth for incisors, canines, and premolars, and one for those between molars. A method for deciding the optimal neighborhood of application of each operator is also presented. Experimental results show that the two operators are very effective at detecting the interstices.< >