A method of crack detection based on digital image correlation for simulated cracked tooth

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Diagnosing cracked teeth presents significant clinical challenges.
• Accurate detection of crack location is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate an image-based method for detecting micro-cracks in simulated cracked teeth.
• To quantitatively visualize and characterize micro-cracks using digital image correlation (DIC).

Main Methods:

• An image acquisition system with a telecentric lens on a three-axis motion platform was developed.
• Simulated cracked teeth under masticatory force were analyzed using DIC to generate deformation maps.
• Image analysis techniques were employed to visualize and characterize micro-cracks.

Main Results:

• The crack path skeleton was successfully extracted from the principal strain field image.
• Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images verified the extracted crack path.
• Crack opening displacement was quantitatively calculated as 2-10 µm, consistent with literature values.

Conclusions:

• The proposed DIC-based method enables detection of cracks on simulated cracked tooth surfaces.
• This technique offers a potential new solution for rapid clinical diagnosis of cracked teeth.
• Calculated crack information can assist in subsequent clinical treatment planning.