Three-dimensional printing offers possibilities for the development of new models in endodontics. Numerous studies have used 3D-printed teeth; however, protocols for the standardization of studies still need to be developed. Another problem with 3D-printed teeth is the different areas of literature requested to understand the processes. This review aims to gather evidence about 3D-printed teeth on the following aspects: (1) why they are advantageous; (2) how they are manufactured; (3) problems they present; and (4) future research topics. Natural teeth are still the standard practice in ex vivo studies and pre-clinical courses, but they have several drawbacks. Printed teeth may overcome all limitations of natural teeth. Printing technology relies on 3D data and post-processing tools to form a 3D model, ultimately generating a prototype using 3D printers. The major concerns with 3D-printed teeth are the resin hardness and printing accuracy of the canal anatomy. Guidance is presented for future studies to solve the problems of 3D-printed teeth and develop well-established protocols, for the standardization of methods to be achieved. In the future, 3D-printed teeth have the possibility to become the gold standard in ex vivo studies and endodontic training.

Polyetheretherketone is a high-performance thermoplastic polymer that can be used in 3D printing by fused deposition modeling, and is a promising material for dental applications. Some printing parameters are sensitive and can influence the properties of the printed object. Thus, this work aims to evaluate the influence of the print layer thickness on the surface roughness of polyetheretherketone before and after polishing and to verify the effectiveness of the polishing method used, as well as to compare it with the results obtained using polymethyl methacrylate as the control group. Specimens with different impression layer thicknesses were printed with polyetheretherketone (Group A—0.1 mm and Group B—0.3 mm). Additionally, a control group with polymethyl methacrylate specimens was milled. Roughness evaluation was conducted using a contact profilometer after the specimens had been printed (before polishing). Then, silicon carbide sandpaper was used to polish the surface, and the roughness was reassessed. Differences were observed between specimens regarding the print layer thickness and the roughness, with the 0.3 mm layer thickness showing the lowest roughness values. The results of this pilot study suggest that the surface roughness of fused deposition modeling printed polyetheretherketone is influenced by print layer thickness, with the lowest roughness seen at a thickness of 0.3 mm.

This study aimed to describe a support material removal protocol (SMRP) from inside the root canals of three-dimensional printed teeth (3DPT) obtained by the microcomputed tomography (microCT) of a natural tooth (NT), evaluate its effectiveness by comparing the 3DPT to NT in terms of internal anatomy and behaviour toward endodontic preparation, and evaluate if 3DPT are adequate to assess the differences between two preparation systems. After the SMRP, twenty 3DPT printed by PolyJet™ were microCT scanned before preparation and thereafter randomly assigned into two groups (n = 10). One group and NT were prepared using ProTaper Gold^® (PTG), and the other group with Endogal^® (ENDG). MicroCT scans were carried out after preparation, and the volume increase, volume of dentin removed, centroids, transportation, and unprepared areas were compared. For the parameters evaluated, no significant differences were found between the 3DPT and NT before and after preparation (p > 0.05), and no significant differences were found between the 3DPT PTG group and the 3DPT ENDG group (p > 0.05). It can be concluded that the SMRP described is effective in removing the support material SUP706B™. PolyJet™ is adequate for printing 3DPT. Furthermore, 3DPT printed with high-temperature RGD525™ have similar behaviour during endodontic preparation with PTG as the NT, and 3DPT can be used to compare two preparation systems.

Objectives: This study assessed students' perceptions of artificial teeth (AT) after completing the Endodontics I, II, and III curricular units at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal. Additionally, the study aims to review existing literature on students' perceptions of three-dimensional (3D) printed models used in pre-clinical training, identifying current challenges and future needs for improvement.Methods: A questionnaire was adapted, consisting of 24 questions, using a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree), in which students had to compare AT with natural teeth (NT) in various aspects of anatomy and endodontic procedures. For the review of literature, a search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science up to March 16, 2025. The search included the keywords: endodontics; natural teeth; artificial teeth; 3D printed teeth; teaching; pre-clinical training and dental education, both individually and in combination using the Boolean operator “AND”. Relevant original research studies and review articles, published in English were selected without time restrictions. Additionally, cross-references were examined for further relevant studies.Results: Overall, students expressed a favorable opinion of AT in relation to external anatomy, radiopacity with files or gutta-percha, ease of acquisition, superior hygiene, and the simplicity of performing endodontic procedures. Conversely, students reported negative perceptions of AT concerning internal anatomy, pulp chamber size, canal shape and size, radiopacity, tactile sensation during access cavity preparation and pulp chamber entry, tactile feedback during endodontic procedures and debris removal, and the adequacy of AT for understanding endodontic techniques.Conclusion: The incorporation of AT into endodontic training represents a significant advancement toward standardization and improved efficiency in dental education. However, AT cannot fully replicate the tactile feedback and anatomical characteristics of NT. Although AT offers advantages in terms of consistency and availability, their limitations in mimicking the tactile sensation and radiopacity remain critical factors influencing students' perceptions. These findings underscore the need for continued development of AT that more closely mimics the properties of NT. (EEJ-2025-03-047)