3D shape reconstruction of teeth by shadow speckle correlation method

This paper presents a new method for 3D shape reconstruction in computer-aided dental prosthetics. A specklegram is projected onto the tooth to be measured. This shadow speckle image is recorded and then processed by a digital image correlation method, which enables the computation of 2D shapes based on the similar principle of shadow moiré method. By repeating the procedure for all the sides, i.e., one crown and several side surfaces, local 2D shapes can be measured precisely. Afterwards, these local 2D profiles are merged to form a 3D model, during which certain constraints such as the widths along perpendicular directions are introduced to guide the process. As the height information within an entire image field is recorded instantly, it has the potential to be employed in an intra-oral environment, which would make the patient feel more comfortable during the restoration process. In vitro experiments were carried out on gypsum teeth models and the results proved the effectiveness of the proposed method.