ALIGNMENT OF MIXED-MODALITY DATA SETS FOR REDUCTION AND REMOVAL OF IMAGING ARTIFACTS

Methods and systems are described for removing reflective artifacts from an imaging model of a patient's teeth. A first volumetric model and a second volumetric model of the patient's teeth are accessed from a computer-readable memory. The orientation and scale of at least one of the two models is repeatedly and automatically adjusted until an optimized orientation and scale is determined that correlates the first volumetric model and the second volumetric model. The second volumetric model is then overlaid onto the first volumetric model. Any data points in the first volumetric model that extend beyond a surface of the patient's teeth in the second volumetric model are detected and removed to create an artifact-reduced volumetric model.