Dental Wear Surface Subtraction Using 3D Profilometry

Dental wear, the loss of tooth material due to reasons other than cavities and sudden dental trauma over the course of a lifetime, is a normal process in all adults. The topmost layer of a tooth is enamel, which is the hardest substance in the human body, and cannot be naturally restored. Enamel can wear away from tooth-to-tooth, tooth-to-foreign body, or tooth-to-dental crown wear, as well as a result of exposure to acidic environments. It is important to be able to precisely measure the wear rate, volume loss, and change in topography of a tooth or dental crown in order to be able to effectively slow down tooth wear. All these calculations can be made using a surface subtraction study.

Surface wear subtraction studies are critical in any application looking at the topographic change in a relatively small area in relation to the entire sample. Such studies can effectively quantify surface wear, corrosion, or the degree of similarity between two parts or molds. Being able to precisely measure the surface area and volume loss of an area of interest is vital in order to properly design wear or corrosion resistant coatings, films, and substrates

Dental Wear Surface Subtraction Using 3D Profilometry