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Updated: Sep 14, 2025
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Published on: August 5, 2021
Enhancing Oral Surgery Simulation: A Systematic Review of 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Models Compared to Traditional
Shahrzad Rahimizadeh Nahavandi1, Leila Gholami2, Morteza Ghojazadeh3
1Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Objectives:
3D-printed simulation models are emerging as novel tools in various medical education fields. This study aims to investigate the evidence on the efficacy of 3D-printed jaw models compared to traditional animal models for oral surgical skill training.
Methods:
A comprehensive literature search was conducted up to June 2024 in Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, Epistemonikos, and ERIC databases. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, relevant studies were identified. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. The Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument tool (MERSQI) was used for methodological quality assessment.
Results:
A total of 1074 potentially relevant publications were initially identified. only three articles met the stringent inclusion criteria. These studies provided unique insights into the application, effectiveness, limitations, and potential of 3D-printed versus animal models in dental oral surgery education, however, their methodological design received only a moderate score based on the MERSQI evaluation. In all three studies, the participants preferred 3D-printed models over traditional cadaveric models in terms of anatomical accuracy, educational value, and surgical simulation. However, limitations were identified, particularly in replicating realistic soft tissue sensations.
Conclusions:
3D-printed models can provide a realistic and novel alternative tool to the animal jaw, enhancing the learning experience in oral surgical skill training of dental students. Despite the limitations of the available studies, integrating 3D printing technology into dental and oral surgery education shows promise for improving educational quality. Future well-designed studies are needed to strengthen the existing evidence on this topic.
