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Abstract

Purpose: With the development of flexible polymers and stereolithography, 3D printed models have been proposed for dental education to overcome the shortcomings of extracted natural teeth and artificial resin blocks. This review aimed to systematically review the literature available for the effectiveness of the use of 3D printed tooth models for undergraduate endodontic education. Methods: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched. Clinical studies with full-text articles available in the English language were selected. Data extraction, risk of bias assessment using the ROBINS-I tool, and assessment of the quality of evidence were performed independently by two authors, with a third author consulted when needed. Results: A total of five studies involving 460 participants were included in the review. Three studies supported the use of 3D-printed teeth, one study found no statistically significant difference and one study reported negative results. All studies showed a moderate risk of bias. The quality of evidence for outcomes is low. Conclusions: Based on the limited evidence available, it can be concluded that 3Dprinted teeth may help replicate the complex internal anatomy of teeth for the preclinical training of students. However, the materials used for producing the 3Dprinted teeth need to be developed to replicate the properties of dental tissues.3Dprinted teeth can replicate the internal anatomy of natural teeth and standardize the complex structures for the practice of students and a fair evaluation during examinations.

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