Dental education models are a useful tool in the dentist's office. 3D model teeth can be used to teach young patients how to properly brush and care for their teeth, and dental implant models can help older patients understand procedures. Using teeth models to educate patients about dental hygiene is vital to healthy teeth and successful dental practice.

It's important for dental assistants and dentists to understand how to use and explain dentistry models. This includes being able to explain procedures and demonstrate good hygiene practices on a 3D tooth model. Dental models education and training for dental workers should include:

1. Understanding the differences between the many kinds of dental models.

2. Learning how to demonstrate procedures on a model of teeth.

3. Determining how best to educate patients using a teeth model.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about dental molds basics through industry training events

There are many different kinds of dental models available to dental assistants and dentists, and each tooth model can be helpful in patient education and care. It's important for dental workers to learn about the many kinds of dental model they can use, and which model is best for explaining which procedure.

I recommend: Attend the annual conference held by the American Dental Education Association to learn ways to educate patients about dental hygiene using a dental teeth model. The Aurum Group sells dental bridge and partial models and also offers training courses for dental staff on how to use them.

Get trained in to use a dental model as a teaching aide for your patients

Dental models can be a vital tool in patient education and explaining procedures and tooth conditions to patients. Teeth models can also be a great marketing tool for your dental office. It's important for dental assistants and dentists to learn how dental implant models can benefit both the dental business and its patients.

I recommend: Go to the Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry's website to read Thomas Dumont's report on how to use dental models. It will help you understand how to convey information to your patients using a dental hygiene model. Sign up for an online course at the Dental Assistant Training School to learn to mold and trim your own tooth model.

Look to dental groups for advice in how to best use a dental lab model

Dental models can be helpful in teach dental patients about hygiene and tooth care, but it's important to understand how to educate them properly. Dentists and assistants need to understand how to use 3d tooth models as educational tools. Attend seminars and conferences to learn effective methods using dental education models.

I recommend: The Massachusetts Dental Society sponsors the Lasting Impressions program, an initiative dedicated to promoting dental health among seniors. Learn how it uses dental models to explain denture care. Register for the UMKC Midwest Dental Conference, which features the Kilgore adult dental model and other tooth model information and education.

Dental models are used for two main purposes: as anatomical representations to explain procedures and treatments in the dental field and anatomically correct casts of patient jaw and teeth for hardware fitting purposes. Dentistry models come in many shapes, sizes and price ranges, and determining which items are necessary for you will be based on age level of clients and specialty.

A teeth model can be a useful educational tool. From teaching young children how to brush, to reteaching older adults who have let their teeth fall into decay, models can be useful for all ages.

To find the right dental models for you:

1. Determine if you are needing dental education models or patient specific dental model tools.

2. Dental education models can be costly, so make sure that you budget accordingly.

3. Ask about bulk discounts from one supplier if you plan to purchase multiple dental education models or impression model trays.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase anatomical dental models for educational purposes

Dental education models make for great educational tools for young and old alike.

I recommend: The Anatomy Warehouse offers the following teeth models: Upper and Lower Jaw Model, Upper and Lower Jaw Model, Lateral Incisor Only, Teeth and Jaw Development, Giant Hands On Childs Jaw, Giant Hands on Adult Jaw, Giant Three Root Molar, Functional 2 Part Skull with Masticator Muscles, Diseased Teeth and Gums Model, Dental Morphology Series and the ever popular Giant Tooth Brushing Model. The Anatomical Chart Company also offers the Giant Tooth Brushing Model as well as the Flossing and Brushing Model With Toothbrush, Diseased Teeth and Gums Model, the Upper and Lower Jaw Model, the Deluxe Jaw With Removable Teeth and the T.M.J. Skull. Universal Medical Inc. offers the Classic Tooth Model Label 5 models, Lower Incisor 2-part Model, Lower Single-Root Pre-Molar Model Lower Canine 2-part Model, Lower Twin-Root Molar Model 2-part, Upper Triple-Root Molar Model 3-part, Giant Molar Model with Dental Caries, Giant Dental Care Model 3 times life-size, Diseased Teeth and Gums Model, Diseases of the Teeth & Jaw Model, Dentition Development Model, Half Lower Jaw Model 3 times full-size 6-part, Adult Denture Model and much, much more.

Use dentistry models in an orthodontics setting

Use dentistry models as part of the parent and patient education process before they enter the world of orthodontia.

I recommend: Find orthodontic consultation models through Models Plus. Sybron Dental Specialties Inc. offers urethane models of over 20 different occlusions for consultation demonstration purposes for patients and parents.

Create 3d model teeth to fit your patients with their hardware

From crowns to bridgework and more, 3d model teeth are necessary for customer personalized fit. Order impression kits and tools to aid in the model casting process.

I recommend: Create your client's model with Ortho Cast, Inc. Purchase impression tools and materials from Kalmed Dental Products, Inc. Compare prices on dental impression trays from Dentalcompare. Check out the high quality, made in the USA dental impression trays from Superior Dental and Surg. Mfg. Co. They have been manufacturing dental impression trays since 1936.

Create digital 3d model teeth

Digital dental models are the latest addition to the dental model realm.

I recommend: Look at the digital dental models offered by GeoDigm Corporation. Check out the digital modeling capabilities of OrthoCAD by Cadent Inc.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use dental education models to teach school children about brushing their teeth. A dental hygiene model helps you demonstrate on a large scale how to properly use one's toothbrush and floss. Use the visit as a Public Relations/Advertising opportunity for your business as well.

Making a selection or purchase of dental models can be tricky if you don't know what to look for when you order or what you want to buy. So knowing the proper dental model key terms can help you communicate efficiently with your sales representative. Dental model key terms can include dentition, TMJ, 3-D digital models, occlusions, removable prosthetics and simulator.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Dentition

Dentition means the type, number and arrangement in a set of teeth. This information is useful and can be taught through the use of dental models.

I recommend: Take a look at the biology of human dentition as shared by the University of Illinois at Chicago. Get a detailed breakdown of dentition at Dentalfind.

TMJ

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint. Using a dental model, you want to explain how there has to be harmony between mandibular (lower jaw) condyle and the glenoid fossa (joint space) and the way the upper and lower teeth come together.

I recommend: Use your dental model to explain to your patient the basics of TMJ diseases and disorders as explained by the TMJ Association.

3-D digital models

Save time, money and labor with 3-D digital models by using an oral dental scanner to scan the inside of your patient's mouth. This captures a model view of the teeth.

I recommend: Learn from 3D Systems how 3-D digital models work for dental applications.

Occlusions

Dental occlusions are the contact between teeth when the upper and lower jaw come together. This is particularly important when explaining to patients about different bite scenarios and how to treat them.

I recommend: Sybron Dental Specialties can give you urethane models of over 20 different occlusions to use for your consultation demonstrations with your patients and/or their parents.

Removable prosthetics

Removable prosthetics are false dental items that can be removed as needed from the mouth. They can include crowns, bridges, full dentures and partial dentures.

I recommend: WorlDental covers information on dentures and other removable dental prosthetics.

Simulators

Dental model simulators are used for teaching dental students about proper technique, as opposed to educating the patients. These models are more true to life in size, and they are designed to allow the handler to manipulate them.

I recommend: Find out from the University of Washington how dental model simulators are revolutionizing the field of dental teaching.

It's a good idea to buy some dental models to use for demonstrations if you have a dental practice or you do business with dental schools. It can be hard to use real teeth for this purpose, since they are so small they can be hard to see. Also, people are not likely to volunteer to get extra dental work done just so a person can teach.

There are different dental models types and styles to use for different purposes. Three that are very common are:

1. The dental lab model, which features a full mannequin head or a portion of the jaw;

2. The dental implant model, which is good for patient education;

3. Individual models of the different types of teeth.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at dental education models for use in a lab setting

It's a good idea to buy one or more dental education models if you are going to teach in a dental lab that includes hands-on training or supply a teacher that is going to do so. That way students can practice dental cleanings and surgical procedures without posing any risk to actual patients.

I recommend: Buyamag sells model heads for use in dental x-ray training. They have opaque metal teeth and chair mounts to keep them in place. The company also makes mannequin heads in adult and child sizes for teaching dental anatomy. Lake Forest Anatomicals makes jaw models which are perfect for explaining drilling and surgical techniques.

Check out the dental implant teeth model

When patients need to get dental implants, it is often difficult to explain how they will look without the assistance of dental implant models. You can use an appropriate model to show the patient approximately what his or her mouth will look like upon completion of the dental procedure.

I recommend: Salvin Dental Specialties sells several implant models, including ones that feature crowns and bridges. Models Plus sells a complete patient model kit that comes in a padded carrying case for easy transport and storage.

Consider individual 3D model teeth instead of a full dental model

Since people can't see what their teeth look like below the surface of the gums, showing them a 3D tooth model can help the dentist explain the location of cavities and the importance of brushing better. Kids also like to look at these teeth models. They're good for showing them how they have to care for each tooth individually instead of just brushing to the count of 10.

I recommend: Universal Medical has incisor, molar and canine tooth models that show the teeth all the way to the roots. Some models even show a cross section so people can see what the insides of their teeth look like. Anatomy Warehouse also sells this type of tooth model. It has models of diseased teeth and teeth with caries, which can help dentists explain the consequences of not brushing well or explain how fillings work.