Abstract

SANTOS, Glaucia Nize Martins et al. Augmented reality as a new perspective in Dentistry: development of a complementary tool. Rev. ABENO [online]. 2016, vol.16, n.3, pp. 19-27. ISSN 1679-5954.

The purpose of this study is to introduce a visualization and interaction tool of Augmented Reality in mobile devices using three-dimensional (3D) volumetric images from patients' real tomographic acquisition, and to describe the steps for preparing the models for such 3D visualizations. Augmented Reality was built correlating tomographic images and open-source software, in a sequence of (1) image acquired, that consists of multi-planar images that can be visualized as 3D renderings and are the basis for constructing polygonal surfaces of specific anatomic structures of interest, (2) creation of volumetric models, in which 3D volumetric model can be saved and exported as a 3D polygonal mesh in .stl file format, (3) model simplification, which must be done in order to simplify the matrix of polygonal surfaces, and reduce models' megabytes, and (4) create the augmented reality project. Once these procedures are performed, the augmented reality project can be saved and visualized in mobile devices. The volumetric model from a computed tomography acquisition is available in any mobile device screen, superimposed on a marker. This approach facilitates the visualization of the model, giving the precise location of structures and abnormalities, as supernumerary teeth, bone fractures and asymmetries. Also, the model is saved for future and multiple visualization. Augmented reality application is a new perspective in dentistry although it is in an early phase. It can be created by integrating multiple technologies and has a great potential to support learning and teaching, and improve how 3D models from medical images are seen.

Keywords : Augmented Reality.; Dentistry.; Digital Image.; Education.; Radiology..