在下顎植牙 (Implant) 手術規劃中，牙醫師除了要考慮植體 (Fixture) 植入的深度、角度及周圍骨質的密度外，植體與下顎齒槽神經管 (Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal) 的距離更是牙醫師必須注意的地方，如果因為疏失沒考慮到距離神經管的距離，往往會造成下顎齒槽神經受傷，產生很嚴重的醫療糾紛。因此，若能在電腦斷層影像 (Computed Tomography, CT) 以自動或半自動的方式搜尋出神經管路位置，將有助於牙醫師在植牙術前規劃時，判讀出下顎齒槽神經管路區域，減低因不當植牙規劃造成病患的傷害。所以本研究主要是應用區域成長法 (Region Growing Method)，由電腦斷層影像中擷取出下顎齒槽神經管路，並以3D方式呈現，協助牙醫師在植牙術前規劃時，判讀出下顎齒槽神經管路區域。

In implant surgeries, doctors need to consider the depth and angle of the fixture and density around the bone. Doctors must also consider the distance between the fixture and the inferior alveolar nerve canal. If the distance to a nerve is not taken into account, serious injury may result, leading to medical problems. Therefore, we use a method that automatically or semi-automatically finds nerves in computed tomography
images. This method can help doctors find the inferior alveolar nerve canal before implant surgery, thereby reducing the risk of injury to patients. This research concerns the application of the seeded region growing method. We extract the inferior alveolar nerve canal from a computed tomography image and show it in three dimensions. This will help doctors find the inferior alveolar nerve canal when they plan for implant surgery.