Fundamental understandings of mesh process and various formats of digital data in digital dentistry

Abstract

Clinicians manage three-dimensional (3D) data in routine practice in the era of digital dentistry. Fundamental knowledge of digital data beyond the user’s manual provided by the companies is needed to understand and handle the 3D data in clinics. The 3D data used in the clinic are acquired by scanners and processed using a step-by-step procedure. A point cloud is an initial form of raw data. The data are then filtered, and a triangle mesh is generated. The meshes could be exported in various file formats. This fundamental knowledge would be helpful for clinicians in daily practice.