Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Digital Hybrid Model Preparation for Virtual Planning of Reconstructive Dentoalveolar Surgical Procedures
Published on: August 5, 2021
Soft tissue image reconstruction using cone-beam computed tomography combined with laser scanning: a novel method to
Shu Yan1, Sheng-Gen Shi1, Zhong-Ying Niu2
1Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100050, China; Diagnosis & Treatment Center of Oral Diseases of the PLA, The 306 th Hospital of the PLA, Beijing 100101, China.
Objective:
To construct a 3-D model of the masticatory mucosa to measure the thickness of the facial/lingual gingiva and palatal mucosa.
Study Design:
Maxillofacial regions of 8 volunteers were scanned using cone-beam computed tomography to generate 3-D maxillary and mandibular models. Digital models were obtained by laser scanning of the impressions. Models were constructed using global data registration and Boolean subtraction. Accuracy was assessed by comparison against control patients with a periodontal pack around their gingival boundaries. Inter- and intra-observer variability were determined.
Results:
Masticatory mucosa models (in stereolithography format) showed the gingival and mucosal contours. The gingival thickness of the 3-D models and controls were not significantly different (P > .05). The interclass correlation coefficient and Kappa values indicated good intra-observer and inter-observer agreement, respectively.
Conclusions:
Cone-beam computed tomography combined with laser scanning can be reliable for visualizing and measuring the thickness of the masticatory mucosa.
