Three-dimensional portable document format: a simple way to present 3-dimensional data in an electronic publication.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Dentistry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) models of dental and anatomical structures are crucial for various clinical and research applications.
• Current methods often reduce complex 3D data to 2D images or require specialized software for visualization.
• This limitation hinders accessibility in scientific publications and professional communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the interactive display of 3D surface data within portable document format (PDF) files.
• To showcase how 3D data analyses can be presented in an interactive, three-dimensional format in electronic publications.
• To illustrate the export capabilities of 3D data for diagnostic reports and inter-colleague communication.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing tessellated surfaces to represent 3D models of teeth and associated soft and hard tissues.
• Integrating interactive 3D visualization capabilities into standard PDF documents.
• Employing Adobe Reader as the accessible software for viewing the interactive 3D content.

Main Results:

• Successful interactive display of 3D surface data directly within PDF files.
• Demonstration of 3D data and analyses without the need for specialized visualization software.
• Facilitation of data export from diagnostic software for enhanced communication.

Conclusions:

• Portable document format (PDF) provides a simple and effective platform for interactive 3D data visualization.
• This approach enhances the dissemination of complex 3D information in scientific and clinical contexts.
• Interactive 3D PDFs improve diagnostic reporting and collaboration among professionals.