Fabrication of Soft Tissue Layers for 3D Printed Models in Dental Implant Education

The use of CBCT has enabled the printing of the exact osseous anatomy of the patient, providing the dentist with the tactile simulation in implant placement to ensure a predictable and successful surgery. While these models have substantially enhanced the preparation and education of implant surgery, they lack the soft tissue layers necessary for simulating important procedures such as periosteal releasing incisions and primary closures. For a more realistic surgical simulation in implant education, the soft tissue layers of the oral mucosa as well as the Schneiderian membrane has been incorporated into the 3D printed model. In this article, the newly fabricated 3D model is introduced, and its representation of soft tissue layers is described.