Synthesizing panoramic radiographs by unwrapping dental CT data

A method for synthesizing panoramic radiographs from dental CT data is presented. The method is based on the principles of panoramic radiography with a continuously-moving rotation center. The method computes discrete pixel sums through the CT data along normals to the medial axis of the dental arch. Compared to a conventional panoramic radiograph, the method produces less geometric distortion, less blurring, and less superimposition of other structures. The method is particularly suited to forensic identification of human remains in cases where the state of degradation precludes the possibility of obtaining a conventional panoramic radiograph.