Optimization of CBCT data with image processing methods and production with fused deposition modeling 3D printing

The present study has investigated the effect of the removal of artifacts in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with image processing techniques to dental implant planning. The aim of this study has been to benefit from the novel image processing techniques and additive manufacturing technologies in order to change the existing approach in the usage of the 3D model in the orthogonal surgery, traumatic cases, and tumor operations and to solve the restrictions in surgical operations. In the study, firstly, 3 × 3, 5 × 5, and 7 × 7 kernel values were determined on the CBCT image data of the patient. The determined kernel values were applied on CBCT images by choosing median, median-mean-Gaussian (MMG), and bilateral filters, which are quite successful in removing noise in medical images. A thresholding process to separate teeth and bones from soft tissue regions on CBCT images, histogram normalization for a balanced color distribution, morphology operations to reduce noise areas, and tooth and bone boundaries were determined as closely as possible to patient anatomy. The original image and the images obtained from image enhancement techniques were compared. Results showed that the 3 × 3 median filtering method from three different kernel values out of three different image processing methods used in the study greatly improved the artifacts. It has also been shown that the availability of image processing and additive manufacturing methods on CBCT images has been shown to be a highly important factor before dental surgery planning.