The elimination of the linear artifacts by the metal restorations in the three dimensional computed tomographic images using the personal computer and software

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of newly developed personal computer-based software to eliminate the linear artifacts by the metal restorations. A 3D CT image was conventionally reconstructed using ADVANTAGE WINDOWS 2.0 3D Analysis software (GE Medical System, Milwaukee, USA) and eliminated the linear artifacts manually. Next, a 3D CT image was reconstructed using V-works 4.0 (Cybermed inc., Seoul, Korea) and the linear artifacts eliminated manually in the axial images by a skillful operator using a personal computer. A 3D CT image was reconstructed using V-works 4.0 (Cybermed Inc., Seoul, Korea) and the linear artifacts were remover using a simplified algorithm program to eliminate the linear artifacts automatically in the axial images using a personal computer, abbreviating the manual editing procedure. Finally, the automatically edited reconstructed 3D images were compared to the manually edited images. We effectively eliminated the linear artifacts automatically by this algorithm, not by the manual editing procedures, in some degree. But programs based on more complicated and accurate algorithms may lead to a nearly flawless elimination of these linear artifacts automatically.