Who is involved in the 3DenTECT project?
Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Schratzenstaller
Research assistants: Jan Zentgraf
What is the title of the research project?
3DenTECT – 3D Dental Traumatology Education Community Transfer
What is your research project about?
In the Bavaria–Czech Republic border region programme area, dental care varies significantly across the region in terms of both quality and quantity, which makes providing emergency care following dental accidents particularly challenging. The 3DenTECT project is developing a training programme that provides dentists with further training in the field of dental traumatology using an open-source learning platform and modern teaching methods. For practical training, reusable training models produced via 3D printing are used; these realistically simulate various dental injuries and enable flexible training in everyday practice. Through the continuous updating of content and the integration of new findings, the aim is to improve the quality of treatment in the long term and to strengthen the management of dental trauma in the region on a sustainable basis.
What excites you about the project?
We are particularly delighted to have the opportunity to work across borders with dentists from the Czech Republic. In doing so, it has become clear to us that, although we speak different languages, we are all working towards a common goal and there is little difference between us in terms of our motivations, our methods and our medical equipment. The programme region includes sparsely populated areas with stunning scenery and often limited infrastructure. However, dental accidents do occur there too, and it is important to us to be able to offer the best possible treatment to all patients, despite these challenges, whether in rural areas or in cities.
How can the findings from the project be applied in practice?
The results of our work help practising dentists to undertake further training with flexibility in terms of location and time – not just theoretically on a computer, but in a practical way using 3D-printed training models on which they can practise treatments using their own instruments. This means that practitioners do not have to travel long distances for their continuing professional development. We hope that this innovative concept can also be implemented in other parts of the world to enable practical training of the highest possible quality anywhere.
Response from Alexander Raab, OTH Regensburg
On our website, you will find an overview of OTH Regensburg’s current funded projects.
