Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generating a view of a jaw, a tomographic dataset of a volume including at least part of the jaw is obtained. Inner and outer surfaces of the jaw are identified in the tomographic dataset. Data for a region with boundaries related to the identified inner and outer surfaces are selected. A panoramic view is generated from the selected data and is displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating an elongated object in a three dimensional data array are disclosed. A slice of data generally lengthways of the elongated object is selected. Points on the object in the selected slice are identified. Data including the points are transposed parallel to the slice and transversely to the elongated object to align the points in a direction parallel to the slice and transverse to the elongated object. A current slice is selected that is rotated around the length direction of the object relative to the previously selected slice. The identifying and transposing are repeated to align points on the object in a direction parallel to the current slice and transverse to the elongated object.