Chen Szu-Yu, Wu Yu-Chiao, Wu Jia-Rong, Lin Che-Yi, Hung Yi-Jen, Huang Tsai-Wang, Shieh Yi-Shing
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Department of Dentistry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Dent Sci. 2025 Oct;20(4):2211-2218. doi: 10.1016/j.jds.2025.06.017. Epub 2025 Jul 3.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Effective endodontic education requires realistic models for simulating clinical procedures, particularly working length (WL) determination using electronic apex locators (EALs). Traditional training methods using extracted or plastic teeth lack standardization, realism, and compatibility with EALs. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a 3D-printed tooth model with conductive properties that allows realistic and standardized training in EAL-based WL determination.
Custom 3D-printed teeth with two distinct working lengths (20.0 mm and 21.9 mm) were designed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 3D scanning. Each tooth was embedded in two types of conductive media-tap water and saline. Thirty-six participants (students, trainees, and instructors) performed WL measurements using the Root ZX mini EAL. Accuracy was defined as measurements within ±0.5 mm of the true WL.
The model demonstrated high reproducibility across user groups and media. Instructors achieved perfect accuracy (100 %), trainees ranged from 87.5 % to 100 %, and students demonstrated acceptable but more variable accuracy (86.7 %). No significant differences in measurement outcomes were observed between the two media ( > 0.05). Significant differences in accuracy were found among the three groups ( < 0.05), indicating the model's discriminative ability in assessing experience levels.
This novel 3D-printed model simulates realistic root canal anatomy and conductive conditions for effective EAL training. It distinguishes varying proficiency levels and provides a reproducible, standardized platform for preclinical education. The model bridges the gap between theoretical learning and clinical practice, making it a valuable tool for contemporary endodontic training.
背景/目的：有效的牙髓病学教育需要逼真的模型来模拟临床操作，尤其是使用电子根尖定位仪（EAL）确定工作长度（WL）。使用拔除牙或塑料牙的传统训练方法缺乏标准化、逼真性以及与EAL的兼容性。本研究旨在开发并评估一种具有导电特性的3D打印牙齿模型，该模型可实现基于EAL的WL确定的逼真且标准化训练。
使用锥形束计算机断层扫描（CBCT）和3D扫描设计了具有两种不同工作长度（20.0毫米和21.9毫米）的定制3D打印牙齿。每颗牙齿嵌入两种导电介质——自来水和生理盐水。三十六名参与者（学生、实习生和教员）使用Root ZX mini EAL进行WL测量。准确性定义为测量值在真实WL的±0.5毫米范围内。
该模型在不同用户群体和介质中均显示出高再现性。教员的测量准确性达到了100%，实习生的准确率在87.5%至100%之间，学生的准确率虽可接受但变化更大（86.7%）。两种介质之间的测量结果未观察到显著差异（>0.05）。三组之间的准确性存在显著差异（<0.05），表明该模型在评估经验水平方面具有区分能力。
这种新型3D打印模型模拟了逼真的根管解剖结构和导电条件，可有效用于EAL训练。它能够区分不同的熟练程度，并为临床前教育提供了一个可重复、标准化的平台。该模型弥合了理论学习与临床实践之间的差距，使其成为当代牙髓病学训练的宝贵工具。
