Duan Mengting, Luo Yi, Fan Bing, Fan Wei
State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P. R. China.
J Dent Educ. 2025 Jun 24:e13964. doi: 10.1002/jdd.13964.
To evaluate the effect of three-dimensional (3D)-printed teeth with isthmus on the pre-clinical root canal preparation and obturation training of undergraduates.
3D-printed teeth with isthmus were made from the micro-computed tomography data of a lower first molar from a Chinese permanent teeth database. One hundred and four undergraduates performed root canal preparation and obturation in plastic and 3D-printed teeth within 20 min each using a manikin system. Then, students completed questionnaires, and two independent teachers scored the obturated teeth using X-rays.
The plastic teeth scored higher than 3D-printed teeth in total and the filling density scores (p < 0.05). All students obturated the isthmus. In questionnaire surveys, during the preparation training, students found plastic teeth better in identifying pulp chamber morphology and root canal orifices (49.41%) and provided a better feeling of drill (56.47%). 54.12% of the students indicated that 3D-printed teeth provided a better feeling of the pathway and internal conditions of root canals when using K-files. During the obturation training, over 50% of students felt 3D-printed teeth had advantages in providing gutta-percha point grip senses, manipulation tactile sense, and procedural understanding. Over 98% of students agreed that using 3D-printed teeth with isthmus could enhance learning interest, anatomy understanding, operation skills, and confidence.
3D-printed teeth had evident advantages over traditional plastic teeth in root canal preparation and obturation training. Undergraduates adapted better to the root canal preparation and obturation practices using the 3D-printed teeth. With improved materials and methods, various root canal systems could possibly be printed for diverse purposes.
评估带峡部的三维（3D）打印牙齿对本科生临床前根管预备和充填训练的效果。
带峡部的3D打印牙齿由中国恒牙数据库中一颗下颌第一磨牙的微观计算机断层扫描数据制成。104名本科生使用模拟系统在塑料牙和3D打印牙中分别进行20分钟的根管预备和充填。然后，学生完成问卷，两名独立教师使用X射线对充填后的牙齿进行评分。
塑料牙在总分和充填密度评分上高于3D打印牙（p<0.05）。所有学生均对峡部进行了充填。在问卷调查中，在预备训练期间，学生发现塑料牙在识别髓腔形态和根管口方面更好（49.41%），并且提供了更好的钻磨感觉（56.47%）。54.12%的学生表示，使用K锉时，3D打印牙在提供根管通路和内部情况的感觉方面更好。在充填训练期间，超过50%的学生认为3D打印牙在提供牙胶尖握持感、操作触感和操作理解方面具有优势。超过98%的学生同意使用带峡部的3D打印牙可以提高学习兴趣、解剖理解、操作技能和信心。
在根管预备和充填训练中，3D打印牙比传统塑料牙具有明显优势。本科生使用3D打印牙能更好地适应根管预备和充填操作。随着材料和方法的改进，可能会打印出用于不同目的的各种根管系统。
