A robust 3-D reconstruction system for human jaw modeling

Abstract

This paper presents a model-based vision system for dentistry that will assist in diagnosis, treatment planning and surgical simulation. Dentistry requires the accurate 3-D representation of the teeth and jaws for diagnostic and treatment purposes. The proposed integrated computer vision system reconstructs a 3-D model of the patient’s dental occlusion using an intra-oral video camera. A modified shape from shading (SFS) technique, using perspective projection and camera calibration, extracts the 3-D information from a sequence of 2-D images of the jaw. Data fusion and 3-D registration techniques develop the complete jaw model. Triangulization is then performed, and a solid 3-D model is obtained via rapid prototyping. The system performance is investigated using ground truth data, and the results show sub-millimeter reconstruction accuracy. The system is shown to be robust in terms of speed and accuracy compared to current practices.