Aktaş Nagehan, Atabek Didem, Tunç Osman
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye.
Btech Innovation, METU Technopark, Ankara, Türkiye.
BMC Med Educ. 2025 Jul 28;25(1):1122. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07701-x.
Preclinical training is essential across all areas of dental education. In pediatric dentistry, it is particularly valuable due to the unique challenges of working with young patients, and it provides a safe environment for students to gain confidence before transitioning to clinical care. Procedures such as local anesthesia administration and vital pulp therapy require specific skills that are best developed through simulation-based education. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology offer innovative solutions to enhance dental education by providing realistic and patient-specific educational models. This study aimed to develop and evaluate two distinct 3D-printed educational models for pediatric dentistry training.
A patient-derived cone beam computed tomography dataset was processed to create anatomically accurate models replicating primary molar structures, pulp chambers, and surrounding hard tissues. Sixty-six dental students (third-year, fifth-year, and postgraduate) participated in hands-on training using these models. Participants assessed the models' educational value, realism, and effectiveness using a structured survey.
68.2% of students strongly agreed, and 28.8% agreed that the local anesthesia model enhanced their understanding of anatomical structures and injection sites. Additionally, 81.8% strongly agreed, and 18.2% agreed that visualizing anesthetized nerves enhanced their understanding of how anesthesia spreads within the tissue. In vital pulp therapy training, 71.8% of participants strongly agreed, and 27.3% agreed that the 3D-printed teeth provided a realistic simulation for pulp therapy procedures. 83.3% of students desired to use these models for more advanced methods, and 100% of third-year students strongly agreed that practicing 3D-printed models before treating actual patients would be beneficial. Compared to phantom and extracted teeth, 3D-printed models were perceived as more engaging and accessible, though extracted teeth remained superior in tactile authenticity.
3D-printed models contribute to a more structured and comprehensive educational process by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. Integrating 3D printing technology into the dental curriculum has excellent potential to improve the quality of pediatric dentistry education and clinical preparation.
Not applicable.
临床前培训在牙科教育的各个领域都至关重要。在儿童牙科领域，由于与年轻患者合作面临独特挑战，临床前培训尤为宝贵，它为学生提供了一个安全的环境，使其在过渡到临床护理之前增强信心。诸如局部麻醉给药和活髓治疗等操作需要特定技能，而通过基于模拟的教育能最好地培养这些技能。三维（3D）打印技术的最新进展提供了创新解决方案，通过提供逼真且针对患者的教育模型来加强牙科教育。本研究旨在开发和评估两种用于儿童牙科培训的不同3D打印教育模型。
处理一份源自患者的锥形束计算机断层扫描数据集，以创建复制乳磨牙结构、牙髓腔和周围硬组织的解剖学精确模型。66名牙科学生（三年级、五年级和研究生）使用这些模型参与实践培训。参与者通过结构化调查评估模型的教育价值、逼真度和有效性。
68.2%的学生强烈同意，28.8%的学生同意局部麻醉模型增强了他们对解剖结构和注射部位的理解。此外，81.8%的学生强烈同意，18.2%的学生同意可视化麻醉神经增强了他们对麻醉在组织内扩散方式的理解。在活髓治疗培训中，71.8%的参与者强烈同意，27.3%的参与者同意3D打印牙齿为牙髓治疗操作提供了逼真的模拟。83.3%的学生希望将这些模型用于更高级的方法，100%的三年级学生强烈同意在治疗实际患者之前练习3D打印模型会有帮助。与模型和拔除的牙齿相比，3D打印模型被认为更具吸引力且更易获取，不过拔除的牙齿在触觉真实性方面仍更胜一筹。
3D打印模型通过弥合理论知识与实践经验之间的差距，有助于实现更结构化、更全面的教育过程。将3D打印技术整合到牙科课程中具有提高儿童牙科教育质量和临床准备水平的巨大潜力。
不适用。
