Development of real 3D dental X-ray

Objectives: The aim of our group was the implementation of the nowadays widely used real three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology to dental X-ray diagnostic procedures. With the real 3D imaging we wanted to develop a user-friendly method, which is available for all those who have a common digital X-ray device in the dental office. This technique reduces the irradiation dose, price, and treatment time in contrast with Cone-beam CT. The development of this technique and tools needed, the improvement of the protocol, creation of the software background and the exploration of possible application perspectives were among the main goals of our team.Methods: For the experiments a Gendex 765 DC dental X-ray unit, and an image-processing computer was used. The pictures were made with the help of a sensor holder connected to a pointer device, a ruler grid attached to the teeth and a laser targeting device mounted to the X-ray tube. We used a cadaver skull and voluntary patients, by whom X-rays were indicated anyway. The teeth were shot from 2 different angles closing 14-degrees with each other. In the computer an anaglyph image was constructed. By means of red-cyan glasses the 3D images were evaluated subjectively. Results: We demonstrated that with the developed tools, it is possible to create true 3D X-ray images, which can be used for spatial measurements and diagnostics or for therapeutic control.Conclusions: The real 3D X-ray is an easy to use, cheap, fast and spectacular alternative in certain cases to the currently prevalent Cone-beam CT. The real 3D X-ray can be especially useful e.g. by the investigation of the bony pocket/defect alterations, localization of impacted canines and the nerve-roots or sinus-roots relationships. The developed tools may promote this procedure to be more popular in everyday practice.Support: Faculty Research Application FOK/DH/3-5/2011.