[The reconstruction of geometric models of dentition defects based on 3-dimensional industrial computed tomography...

A technique on data capture of plaster models for building 3-dimensional geometric models of dentition defects was presented for the purpose of further computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM)of removable partial denture.

A plaster model with dentition defects was scanned with low energy X-ray industrial computed tomography (ICT) for ICT image. The data after image processing and vectorization were transferred to a customized reverse engineering software system, and a CAD model of dentition defects was reconstructed. Then a 3-dimensional digital model of removable partial denture framework was created with CAD/CAM software system. Import/export of the data was in STL format.

Dense and uniform data points without blind areas were acquired and the structure of the reconstructed CAD model of dentition defects was clean and smooth. CAD model of framework was then obtained.

The method presented is practical for 3-dimensional data capture, and it helps build reliable 3-dimensional geometric models with better spatial resolution and higher precision than conventional technique with medical CT.