Dental and ortthopedic densitometry modeling system and method

A method of tomographically modeling dental and orthopedic densitometry, which includes the steps of:

• a) providing a controller with a microprocessor and a memory device connected to said microprocessor;
• b) providing an input device connected to said microprocessor;
• c) inputting patient diagnostic parameters with said input device;
• d) storing said diagnostic parameters in memory;
• e) providing X-ray equipment with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector array;
• f) positioning said X-ray equipment and a patient's dental/orthopedic structure relative to each other with said patient's dental/orthopedic structure between said source and said detector array;
• g) emitting an X-ray beam from said source through said dental structure and to said detector array;
• h) outputting a signal from said detector array to said microprocessor;
• i) forming with said microprocessor a tomographical densitometry model of said dental/orthopedic structure;
• j) providing an output device connected to said microprocessor;
• and
• k) outputting said densitometry model to said output device.

A method of tomographically modeling dental and orthopedic densitometry, which includes the steps of:

• a) providing a controller with a microprocessor and a memory device connected to said microprocessor;
• b) providing an input device connected to said microprocessor;
• c) inputting with said input device dental or orthopedic patient diagnostic parameters, including a pre-existing densitometry model;
• d) storing said diagnostic parameters in said memory device;
• e) providing X-ray equipment connected to said microprocessor, said equipment including an X-ray source and an X-ray detector array;
• f) positioning said X-ray equipment and a patient's dental or orthopedic structure relative to each other with said patient's dental or orthopedic structure located between said X-ray source and said detector array;
• g) emitting an X-ray beam from said source at a first X-ray beam energy level, passing same through said dental or orthopedic structure, and detecting same with said detector array;
• h) outputting a signal corresponding to said detected X-ray beam from said detector array;
• i) digitizing said detector array output signal;
• j) storing said digitized output signal in said memory device,
• k) repeating steps f)-j) at a second X-ray beam energy level;
• l) merging said stored output signals to form a present tomographical densitometry model of said dental or orthopedic structure;
• m) comparing said present densitometry model with said pre-existing densitometry model;
• n) adjusting said present densitometry model to account for patient parameters including age and gender;
• o) providing an output device connected to said microprocessor;
• p) color coding said present tomographical densitometry model with colors corresponding to dental or orthopedic structure density;
• and
• q) outputting said color-coded model to said output device.