PHOTOGRAMMETRIC TECHNIQUES FOR DENTISTRY ANALYSIS, PLANNING AND 
VISUALISATION 
V. A. Knyaz *, S. Yu. Zheltov 
State Research Institute of Aviation Systems (GosNIIAS), 125319, 7, Victorenko str., Moscow, Russia - 
knyaz@gosniias.ru, zhl@gosniias.ru 
Commission V, WG-V-6 
KEY WORDS: Close-range Photogrammetry, Accuracy, Dentistry, Visualization 
ABSTRACT: 
Dentistry is a field which has a need for accurate information about teeth shape, their relative position and their appearance in the 
face. This information is essentially important for various dentistry fields such as orthodontia, teeth treatment, denture production. 
Existing methods for analyzing mutual teeth arches position (occlusion) use plaster teeth arches casts and a special mechanical tools 
which allow registering occlusion. For investigation and visualization of exterior appearance of teeth arches only 2D images are 
used which do not provide full and adequate presentation. So existing means do not give required accuracy and are not convenient 
for a dentist. Photogrammetric approach gives solution for all described problems with appropriate accuracy of measurements and 
high quality data for investigation, documentation and presentation. A set of new techniques for teeth occlusion registration and 
analysis is proposed based on applying teeth arch 3D model instead of a plaster mould. The developed photogrammetric techniques 
are used for automated patient face and teeth arch 3D models generation, for occlusion registration, treatment planning and 
documenting. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
A lot of dentistry applications has a need for information about 
teeth shape and the relative position of upper and lower dental 
arches. This information is necessary for proper dental 
treatment as long as for accurate and convenient denture 
making. Most of the existing techniques for teeth measurement 
and analyzing of mutual teeth arches position (occlusion) use 
plaster teeth arches models for occlusion analysis and special 
mechanical positioning device -articulator - to register jaws 
position. For registering exterior appearance of the teeth (when 
smiling, for example) 2D photograph is usually used which 
could not give adequate and complete information. 
A successful dentistry treatment is based on reliable 
information about relative teeth arches position and mutual 
location of teeth in different occlusions. 
Tooth preparation is one of the key clinical procedures in 
prosthetic dentistry which provides necessary conditions for 
fixed prosthesis construction. Occlusal surface is the 
functionally significant part of a chewing tooth. It is difficult to 
observe it during functioning as when opposite (upper and 
lower) teeth are in contact their occlusal surfaces can not be 
seen. But a dentist has a need of knowing some distances 
between corresponding teeth in given section. Existing methods 
do not provide the required data. The only information which a 
dentist can get about teeth position is knowing if there is 
presence (or absence) of contact between upper and lower teeth. 
This information can be obtained using thin colour sheet of 
paper to mark off the place of contact on teeth (occlusion) when 
closing jaws. And how dentures will correspond to the teeth 
arch and a face could be analyzed after denture making. 
For adequate prosthetic construction it is necessary to study 
occlusal surface in connection with its structure and function, to 
analyze results of occlusal surface preparation and to find 
proofs or denials for occlusal surface preparation method. 
New methods for tooth preparation based on a consideration of 
tooth structure and its position in masticatory system will offer 
key clinical approaches that ensure necessary and sufficient 
quality in occlusal surface preparation. It allows producing 
anatomically and functionally adequate fixed dentures i.e. full 
and partial crowns and bridges, to make the process of 
preparation more focused and to improve co-operation between 
dentists and dental technicians. 
It was found that bucco-lingual sections of teeth can clearly 
manifest the results of the experimentfl study. Performing such 
sections on plaster casts would require a large number of them 
and their copies, a method of obtaining a graphic depiction of 
sections and, due to the novelty of the preparation method, a 
multitude of sections for getting the ones that are of interest. 
Hence, such a study on plaster casts would become enormously 
cumbersome and “bulky”. So a new a technique for occlusion 
analysis is needed. The most attractive method for teeth surface 
and relative position study is to use “virtual dentist’s office” 
and operate with teeth arch 3D model instead of plaster mould. 
Photogrammetric approach allows getting accurate and 
convenient solution for concerned problems. Application of an 
accurate teeth arch 3D model instead plaster mould gives to a 
dentist new possibilities for occlusion analysis and visualization 
of treatment forecast using patient’s face 3D model. 
Proposed photogrammetric system supports all necessary 
functions for teeth arches occlusion analysis. It uses specially 
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