3D printed tooth for endodontic training in dental education

In dental education root canal treatment is primarily trained with natural teeth models or transparent acrylic blocks. A newly constructed, 3D printed practice tooth can be produced cost-efficiently and reproducibly while based on a natural root canal anatomy. Based on a micro-CT scan of an extracted tooth number 36, a dataset was reconstructed (Autodesk Inventor 2019, Autodesk Inc.) and subsequently 3D printed (Form 3B, Formlabs Inc.). In a hands-on course, dental students performed root canal treatments on 3D printed practice teeth. The practice teeth were prepared and filled. A reciprocating system (Reciproc, VDW GmbH) and a rotating preparation system (Pro Taper Next, Dentsply Sirona GmbH) were utilized. Students completed a questionnaire to evaluate practice materials, learning success, and learning process. The students rated suitability as a practice option (p < 0.001) and handling (p = 0.001) of the 3D printed practice tooth, as well as natural tooth models, significantly better than acrylic blocks.