System and method for detecting a problem tooth

Abstract

A system and method for visualizing a dental image that includes a plurality of high resolution dental data, a plurality of tooth objects, at least one threshold and a processing module is described. The plurality of high resolution dental data that is generated using computed tomography. The plurality of tooth objects selected for each tooth from the dental data includes at least one of an enamel object, a dentin object, a pulp object, a root object, and a nerve object. The at least one threshold is used to detect at least one problem tooth. The processing module detects at least one problem tooth. Additionally, the processing module mathematically models the growth of at least one tooth object, the decay for at least one tooth object, or the combination thereof. Furthermore, the processing module determines the effect the problem tooth has on at least one other tooth object.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for visualizing a dental image, comprising:
 a plurality of high resolution dental data generated using computed tomography;   a plurality of tooth objects selected for each tooth from the dental data from the group consisting of an enamel object, a dentin object, a pulp object, a root object, and a nerve object;   at least one threshold to detect at least one problem tooth;   a processing module that detects at least one problem tooth;   the processing module mathematically models the growth of at least one tooth object; and   the processing module determines the effect the problem tooth has on at least one other tooth object.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a database that includes a database that further includes a plurality of data fields that include a plurality of standard shapes associated with each tooth and a plurality of bone density data for each section of tooth. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the database includes a plurality of normative standards and at least one statistical standard for anomaly detection. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a common boundary between at least two tooth objects that is identified by the system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a particular tooth that is identified by the system for further analysis. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the processing module analyzes the tooth objects for the particular tooth. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the processing module analyzes the particular tooth object by slicing the tooth object at one or more locations. 
     
     
         8 . A system for visualizing a dental image, comprising:
 a plurality of high resolution dental data generated using computed tomography;   a plurality of tooth objects selected for each tooth from the dental data from the group consisting of an enamel object, a dentin object, a pulp object, a root object, and a nerve object;   at least one threshold to detect at least one problem tooth;   a processing module that detects at least one problem tooth;   the processing module mathematically models the decay for at least one tooth object; and   the processing module determines the effect the problem tooth has on at least one other tooth object.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a database that includes a database that further includes a plurality of data fields that include a plurality of standard shapes associated with each tooth and a plurality of bone density data for each section of tooth. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the database includes a plurality of normative standards and at least one statistical standard for anomaly detection. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a common boundary between at least two tooth objects that is identified by the system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a particular tooth that is identified by the system for further analysis. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the processing module analyzes the tooth objects for the particular tooth and analyzes the particular tooth object by slicing the tooth object at one or more locations. 
     
     
         14 . A method for visualizing a dental image, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of high resolution dental data that is generated using computed tomography;   identifying a plurality of tooth objects for each tooth from the dental data, wherein the plurality of tooth objects is selected from the group consisting of an enamel object, a dentin object, a pulp object, a root object, and a nerve object;   providing at least one threshold to detect at least one problem tooth;   detecting the at least one problem tooth;   mathematically modeling at least one of the growth or decay of the at least one tooth object; and   determining the effect the problem tooth has on at least one other tooth object.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising providing a database that includes a database that further includes a plurality of data fields that include a plurality of standard shapes associated with each tooth and a plurality of bone density data for each section of tooth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the database includes a plurality of normative standards and at least one statistical standard for anomaly detection. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising identifying a common boundary between at least two tooth objects. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising identifying a particular tooth for further analysis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising analyzing the tooth objects for the particular tooth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising analyzing the particular tooth object by slicing the tooth object at one or more locations.