Three-dimensional visualization system of oro-facial morphology and functions for tele-diagnosis.

近年来，一些学者试图探讨牙骨形态与口颌功能的关系。然而，传统的技术不允许在相同的坐标上同时对它们进行三维评估。本文介绍了一种利用CT三维重建的头部模型建立颌骨运动三维显示系统的新方法。陶瓷球将非接触式三维激光扫描仪测量的牙体表面三维图像和六自由度颌骨运动分析仪记录的颌骨运动数据集成到3D-CT头模型中。为了更方便地创建个体3D头部模型，我们介绍了另一种新方法，该方法利用从头影测量图像、牙模和面部照片中提取的解剖测量点来拟合人的标准头部模型。与3D-CT头部模型一样，对该头部模型的下颌运动进行了三维模拟，并通过计算机图形学的方法在两个牙-骨三维图像上显示了多个所需点的下颌运动，从而可以同时清晰地掌握下颌运动的运动模式、骨骼形态和咬合关系。这将为患者提供易于理解的信息，并建立一种诊断或治疗方法，以便通过互联网与其他医疗保健提供者进行通信，即使他们彼此相距甚远。面部表情与错牙合畸形的关系也被分析和展示，研究结果被报道在正畸杂志上。

Recently, several attempts to investigate the relationship between dento-skeletal morphology and stomatognathic functions. However, traditional techniques do not allow for simultaneous three-dimensional evaluation of them on the same coordinates. We introduced a new method for three dimensional display system of jaw action by using the reconstructed three dimensional computed tomographic 3D-CT head models. The 3D dental surface image measured by a non-contact 3D laser scanner and jaw movement data recorded by a six-degree of jaw action analyzer were integrated into the 3D-CT head model by the ceramic balls.On the other hand, high cost of CT and the radiation exposure are drawbacks to this method. Attempt to create individual 3D head models more conveniently, we introduced another new method that fits the standard head model for a person with anatomic measurement points extracted from cephalometric images, dental casts and facial photographs. Jaw movement of this head model was displayed three dimensionally as the same manner of simulation using the 3D-CT head model.The mandibular movement of multiple required points on both dento-skeletal 3D images was displayed by the computer graphics, which make it possible clearly to grasp a relationship between the motion pattern of the mandibular movement, skeletal morphology and occlusion simultaneously. This will provide easy-to-understand information for patients and establish a diagnostic or therapeutic method for communication with other health care providers through inter-net, even if they are far from each other. The relationship between facial expression and malocclusions was also analyzed and displayed, and the findings were reported on the orthodontic journals.