Computer aided orthodontics treatment by virtual segmentation and adjustment

A computer aided orthodontic treatment system-an interactive system for three-dimensional (3D) orthodontic treatment is developed. It consists of three main components as follows: the first part is 3D laser scanner developed independently, which digitizes plaster dental model into STL format; the second one is the interactive virtual segmentation software based on curvature estimation and vector optimization, which separates individual teeth from the STL model; and the third part is translation and rotation software with the function of rearranging the segmented teeth to align with standard arch curves. The results show that the 3D aided orthodontic treatment system can be considered as a guideline of treatment preview for the patients. It is also a training tool for orthodontists, residents and students to enhance the experience through simulation before taking actual orthodontic planning.