Computerized 3D digital model setup and planning with simulation of teeth and brackets movement

This paper is a part of the development on 3D orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning system using Borland C++ Builder and OpenGL. The purpose of this article is to describe a quick and easy method on mesh cutting using planes which started from a complete 3-dimensional view of the dental cast in STL format, and follows with the mesh cutting technique on the digital model. Users can cut and separate each tooth from the dental cast by simply drawing a line on the cast in 3D. Then program will generate the vertical plane to obtain the cutting results. Next an interactive treatment planning technique is developed that permits a user to move teeth from the dental cast to a proposed set-up. This can be done either semi-automatically or manually to setup each tooth to lie along the arch form curve for treatment plan. After the digital model has been setup and planning, then the algorithm will provide the ability to display a virtual bracket placed on each tooth. Then both teeth and brackets can transform from the original position to the virtual final outcome as the orthodontics labial treatment simulation in a step by step.