Deep learning-based artefact reduction in low-dose dental cone beam computed tomography with high-attenuation materials

This paper examines the current challenges in computed tomography (CT), with a critical exploration of existing methodologies from a mathematical perspective. Specifically, it aims to identify research directions to enhance image quality in low-dose, cost-effective cone beam CT (CBCT) systems, which have recently gained widespread use in general dental clinics. Dental CBCT offers a substantial cost advantage over standard medical CT, making it affordable for local dental practices; however, this affordability brings significant challenges related to image quality degradation, further complicated by the presence of metallic implants, which are particularly common in older patients. This paper investigates metal-induced artefacts stemming from mismatches in the forward model used in conventional reconstruction methods and explains an alternative approach that bypasses the traditional Radon transform model. Additionally, it examines both the potential and limitations of deep learning-based methods in tackling these challenges, offering insights into their effectiveness in improving image quality in low-dose dental CBCT. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Frontiers of applied inverse problems in science and engineering’.