THREE DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION OF TEETH USING X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY

Complete understanding of the exterior and interior structure of the tooth would be prerequisite to the successful clinical results, especially in the restorative and endodontic treatment. Although three-dimensional reconstruction method using x-ray microtomography could not be used in clinical cases, it may be the best way to reconstruct the morphologic characteristics of the tooth structure in detail without destructing the tooth itself. This study was done to three dimensionally reconstruct every teeth in the arch in order to increase the understanding about the endodontic treatment and to promote the effective restorative treatment by upgrading the knowledge of the tooth morphology. After placing tooth between the microfocus x-ray tube and the image intensifier to obtain two-dimensional images of each level. scanning was done under the condition of 80 keV, $100{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$, 16.8 magnification with the spot size of $8{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$. Cross-section pixel size of $16.28{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$ and 48.83 cross-section to cross-section distance were also used. From the results of this study, precise three dimensional reconstructed images of every teeth could be obtained. Furthermore, it was possible to see image that showed interested area only, for example. enamel portion only, pulp and dentin area without enamel structure, pulp only, combination image of enamel and pulp, etc. It was also possible to see transparent image without some part of tooth structure. This image might be used as a guide when restoring and preparing the full and partial crown by showing the positional and morphological relationship between the pulp and the outer tooth structure. Another profit may be related with the fact that it would promote the understanding of the interior structure by making observation of the auto-rotating image of AVI file from the various direction possible.

X-ray microtomography를 이용한 치아의 3차원 재구성