Construction of database for three-dimensional human tooth models and its ability for education and research--Carious tooth models -

Dent Mater J. 2010 Mar;29(2):132-7. doi: 10.4012/dmj.2009-013.

Abstract

To construct a human teeth database which is freely available to researchers and students, three-dimensional human tooth models were generated in a previous study, by means of micro-CT, from 35 human teeth extracted during orthodontic treatment. In this study, X-ray images of 55 extracted human teeth were acquired using three-dimensional micro-CT at a resolution of 50x50x50 microm, and then visualized using a numerical data visualization software. These carious tooth models provided insight into the morphology and progression of carious defects as well as a rare insight into the morphology of carious tooth pulp, therefore rendering them as a useful tool and efficient method for dental students' learning. Moreover, these three-dimensional models could be simultaneously observed and used by many students and researchers at any one time, which was a superior advantage than having only one actual tooth for learning and study by many.

MeSH terms

  • Databases as Topic*
  • Dental Caries / pathology*
  • Dental Enamel / pathology
  • Dental Pulp / pathology
  • Dental Research*
  • Dentin / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Models, Anatomic*
  • Radiographic Image Enhancement / methods
  • Software
  • Teaching Materials*
  • Tooth / anatomy & histology*
  • X-Ray Microtomography / methods