[A new method for 3-dimensional wear measurement]

This study described a custom-made three-coordinate measuring system. It was based on a mechanical digital measuring device, a measuring and overlapping software and special specimen holders. The x-/y-measuring area was 100,000 x 100,000 microns and the vertical measuring range was 30,000 microns. The measurements were reproducible within the resolution of 1.0 microns over the entire measuring range. The maximum measurable tilt relative to the horizontal plane was < 59 degrees. The total accuracy of the system, which was influenced by the resolution of the measuring device, the reproducibility of the measurements, the accuracy of the test sample reposition and the measuring/overlapping software was better than 1.0 microns. For the graphic presentation of the data commercial software was adopted. Its capabilities were demonstrated on selected examples. The measuring system is an efficient device, which is extremely well adopted to the problem of quantitative wear measurement in dentistry.