OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of four dominant methods of three-dimensional multisource data registration.

METHODSLaser-scanned dental model and maxillofacial cone-bean CT rebuilt model were collected for one orthodontic patient before treatment. Registration process was done based on locating spheres' center, anatomic landmarks, partial characteristic region and global data separately. The registration errors were detected by the function of Geomagic Studio 12.0 software. A comparison of the registration accuracy among these four methods was done by analyzing mean error and standard deviation.

RESULTSThe mean errors and standard deviations of methods of locating spheres' center, anatomic landmarks, partial characteristic region and global data were -(0.082 ± 0.221), -(0.104 ± 0.218), -(0.047 ± 0.138) and -(0.025 ± 0.129) mm respectively.

CONCLUSIONSICP registration methods had better reliability than landmark methods. The global registration was more accurate than partial characteristic region registration and the locating spheres' center method was better than anatomic landmarks method.