Abstract: A method for registering a 3D mesh and a 3D volume image of a patients teeth obtains a 3D volume image of the patients teeth in an occlusion position, the 3D volume image containing at least one jaw portion. A contour surface is generated to form the 3D mesh corresponding to at least one of lingual and vestibular surfaces of the teeth from the 3D volume image. A registered mesh is provided in an occlusion position, the registered mesh having at least one of the vestibular and lingual surfaces. The registered mesh is registered with the generated contour surface content and displayed with the 3D volume image.

Abstract: An extra-oral imaging apparatus can obtain a 3D volume image of a portion of a head of a patient. Exemplary dental apparatus and/or method embodiments can provide 3D mesh models of surfaces of the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental arch in a 3D volume image obtained from a single extraoral scan of physical casts of the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental arch in an occlusal relationship. In one exemplary embodiment, a first 3D mesh model of surfaces of the maxillary dental arch model and a second 3D mesh model of surfaces of the mandibular dental arch model are generated. Then, contact areas where the first 3D mesh model and the second 3D mesh model intersect are removed to separate the first and second mesh models. In another exemplary embodiment, the first 3D mesh model and the second 3D mesh model can be aligned.