Confocal imaging, visualization and 3-D surface measurement of small mammalian teeth

The difficulties traditionally faced by functional morphologists in represe nting and interpreting three-dimensional objects can now be mostly overcome using available laser and computer imaging technologies. A practical metho d for three-dimensional imaging of small mammalian teeth using confocal mic roscopy is reported. Moulding and casting of the teeth were first performed , followed by confocal fluorescence imaging. Accuracy and precision of the scanned structures were tested in morphometric studies by using a new techn ique to measure the noise in the scan of a three-dimensional surface, and l inear and angular dimensions of the scans were compared with measurements m ade using traditional morphological tools. It is shown that measurements ca n be taken with less than 4% difference from the original object. Teeth of the microchiropteran bat Chalinolobus gouldii were scanned and measured to show the potential of the techniques. Methods for visualizing the small tee th in three-dimensional space, and animating the teeth in occlusion, show t he power of this approach in aiding a three-dimensional understanding of th e structure and function of teeth and other three-dimensional structures.