Physical Simulation Models in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A New Concept in 3-Dimensional Modeling for Removal of Impacted Third Molars.

A medical-grade computed tomography scan of a mandible was obtained. A DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) series was exported in 1-mm slices and digitally 3-dimensionally reconstructed to create a stereolithography file. The mandible stereolithography file was digitally manipulated to create sites for simulated placement of third molar teeth and then 3-dimensionally printed in a plastic material. Third molar tooth models were coated in red box wax, simulating a ligament space, and then submerged into the mandible site using laboratory stone. A layer of GI-Mask (Coltene/Whaldent AG, Altstätten, Switzerland) was placed over the impacted third molar site for soft tissue simulation.