Automatic Data Extraction in Odontological X-ray Imaging

Automating the process of analysis in dental x-ray images is receiving increased attention. In this process, teeth segmentation from the radiographic images and feature extraction are essential steps. In this paper, we propose an approach based on thresholding and mathematical morphology for teeth segmentation. First, a thresholding technique is applied based on the image intensity histogram. Then, mathematical morphology operators are used to improve the efficiency of the teeth segmentation. Finally, we perform the boundary extraction and apply the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to get the principal axes of the teeth and some lengths along it that are useful for dentist diagnosis. The technique is promising and can be extended for other applications in dental x-ray imaging.