Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of using 3D printed craniofacial model on orthodontic cephalometric landmark identification teaching. Methods A total of 70 stomatology undergraduates enrolled in 2017 were selected and randomized into experimental group and control group averagely in June, 2020. The experimental group used 3D printed cranial models to assist teaching while the control group conducted routine teaching. Landmark identification results of the two groups were collected and measured. T-test was used to assess the accuracy of landmark identification. Results The coordinate of porion in control group was (-46.62±1.13,6.33±1.23) and in experimental group was (-46.79±0.21,6.46±0.53), suggesting the dispersion in control group was larger. The difference between the coordinates of porion and the standard point in the control group (0.75±0.83,1.08±0.92) and in experimental group (0.22±0.18,0.65±0.45) were statistically significant (X-axis: t=3.698 P=0.001, Y-axis: t=2.505 P=0.016). Conclusions The teaching of landmark identification in cephalometric measurement assisted by 3D printed model can improve the accuracy of students' landmark identification results.

Key words: Oral medicine, Orthodontics, 3D printed model, Cephalometrics, Landmark identification