The Special Interest Group has been created under the DigEdDent project, to provide resources that support development and innovation in 3D printing.
The group has worked to create a 3D printing resource library, and a Community discussion forum
We meet regularly at the ADEE annual conference to discuss all things 3D printed - and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Nagham Katif
United Kingdom
Edward Williams
United Kingdom
Palma
The educational value of 3D printed resources and their role in supporting digital innovation in dental education across ADEE institutions was confirmed. The group agreed that 3D scanning and printing, and simulation are becoming standard in both education and clinical practice. This change is driven by government policy, education strategies, sustainability, and patient expectations, and requires integration of digital technologies into dental curricula to prepare students for modern practice.
The SIG demonstrated successful use of 3D printed teaching resources, supporting manual skills, visual understanding, and technical learning, while allowing repeatable and scalable teaching. The group expressed a commitment to working collaboratively across Europe, aiming to share experience, evidence informed approaches, and practical solutions to support institutions at different stages of digital adoption and to improve alignment in dental education.
Liverpool
A main outcome was the collection and review of survey data from dental educators across Europe and international institutions. The survey showed that many dental schools already use, or plan to use, 3D scanning and printing, and CAD software for dental education, including pre clinical teaching and several clinical disciplines.
The results showed a large variation in scanners, printers, and software used between institutions. This confirmed the need for shared guidance, common protocols, and experience based recommendations, rather than one single technical solution. Educators reported successful use of 3D printed teaching aids that add educational value and support for more standardised, repeatable, and scalable teaching.
Discussions also identified common barriers, mainly cost, training needs, and staff confidence. For this reason, the SIG agreed to focus on peer support and shared resources. The group agreed on developing guidance and protocols, using STL files as a common format, creating shared resources such as FAQs, and building a shared repository of teaching files.
Leuven
The group agreed on continuing to focus on three main areas: sharing STL files, using the community 3D Forum, and creating guidance and standard operating procedures. Members discussed practical solutions for file sharing, including the use of university or cloud platforms, due to limited ADEE storage.
A key outcome was the active launch and promotion of the ADEE 3D Forum, to share experience, files, and advice on equipment and software. The SIG also focused on digital workflows, including scanning, 3D printing, free software, AI, and haptics, with examples of student projects and teaching tools shared by different institutions
Summary of outcomes 2024-2026
The 3D SIG held a follow up meeting in November 2024. The main outcome of this meeting was agreement that the SIG needed a better structure and stronger engagement between conferences.
Due to limited funding, the SIG did not run a formal SIG session in 2025. In March 2026, a second meeting was held to restart activity and prepare for the ADEE conference in Budapest. This meeting focused on practical actions, including reviving the forum, using cloud links for sharing resources, and encouraging each member to contribute at least one teaching resource. Intellectual property concerns were discussed, and it was agreed that members should only share materials they are comfortable sharing as best practice examples. The group also agreed that future SIG presentations should focus more on educational outcomes.
This Community Forum is dedicated to discussing topics related to 3D Printing in a Dental education setting. This Forum was created to promote effective communication and sharing of information in the field. It will cover issues such as curricula development, education in specific world regions, opportunities for collaboration, research education-related topics, and industry collaborations.
The 3D Print Resource Library has been launched, offering the community access to a variety of guides and STL files contributed by different institutions. These resources can be downloaded and utilised for teaching purposes. Each resource includes a brief description of its content and how it has been applied in educational settings.
The 3D Print Community Forum - https://forum.adee.org/
The 3D Community Forum page has been updated to include posts about files shared in the 3D Print Resource Library. The forum's goal is to share practical experiences related to 3D scanning, 3D printing, and digital workflows in dental education. Members are encouraged to ask questions and discuss challenges encountered in teaching or implementing these technologies.
Highlight the latest updates by advertising the 3D Community Forum and 3D Print Resource Library in the ADEE Newsletter, and include an acknowledgement of contributors from ADEE members. Target date: Next ADEE Newsletter.
The ADEE 3D SIG will deliver a structured SIG session at the ADEE 2026 conference, focused on evidence based use of digital technologies in dental education. Actions include improving engagement in the ADEE 3D Forum, sharing teaching resources and SOPs, and forming a small core working group. A short survey will be used to identify member needs and priorities.
Target date: ADEE Conference 2026.
