Method, apparatus and program for selective registration three-dimensional tooth image data to optical scanning tooth model

An apparatus for registering a tooth image to a tooth structure, comprising:

• a data acquisition unit configured to obtain a tooth image model generated from a tooth image taken when an object bites a bite including a marker, a bite scanning model generated by scanning the bite, and a tooth scanning model generated by scanning a tooth structure of the object;
• a display unit;
• a first region of interest model setting unit configured to set the marker included in the tooth image model as a first region of interest;
• a second region of interest setting unit configured to set the marker included in the bite scanning model as a second region of interest, set the tooth part included in the bite scanning model as a third region of interest, and set the tooth part included in the tooth scanning model as a fourth region of interest;
• a pre-registering unit configured to perform the step of registering within a predetermined distance gap by rotary movement or position movement of at least one of the tooth image model, the bite scanning model and the tooth scanning model;
• and
• a main registering unit configured to move at least one of the tooth image model, the bite image model and the tooth scanning model so that for two regions of interest of the set first, second, third and fourth regions of interest, an average of distances between at least one reference point of the two regions of interest is minimum respectively.

A computer program stored in a recording medium to perform a process in combination with hardware, the process comprising:

• a first registering step for registering a tooth image model obtained from a medical image taken when an object bites a bite including a marker to a bite scanning model obtained by scanning the bite;
• a second registering step for registering the bite scanning model to a tooth scanning model obtained by scanning a tooth structure of the object;
• and
• a third registering step for registering the tooth image model to the tooth scanning model based on the results of the first registering step and the results of the second registering step.