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Three-dimensional dental measurements: An alternative to plaster models
Hend Mohammed El-Zanaty1, Amr Ragab El-Beialy, Amr Mohammed Abou El-Ezz
1Orthodontic Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Summary
Digital dental measurements using 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DD) show excellent agreement with traditional caliper measurements on plaster models. This suggests 3DD is a viable alternative for accurate dental arch analysis.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Dental Imaging
- Biometrics
Background:
- Traditional dental measurements rely on plaster casts and calipers.
- Computed tomography (CT) offers a digital alternative for dental analysis.
- Evaluating the accuracy of digital methods is crucial for clinical adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the accuracy of dental measurements obtained from plaster casts versus CT scans.
- To assess the reliability of a 3-dimensional dental measurement program (3DD).
Main Methods:
- Plaster dental models from 34 orthodontic subjects were used.
- Conventional measurements included tooth widths, arch dimensions, and palatal depths using calipers.
- Digital measurements were performed using the 3DD program on CT scans.
Main Results:
- Strong agreement was observed between caliper and 3DD measurements across most parameters in all spatial planes.
- Fair agreement was noted for specific mesiodistal tooth width measurements.
Conclusions:
- The 3DD program demonstrates excellent agreement with conventional methods for dental measurements.
- 3DD using CT scans is a reliable alternative to traditional plaster dental models.
