The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the desirability of alternative models of artiicial teeth versus extracted natural teeth for use in preclinical dental education. Speciically, the study was designed to compare the preparation time and perceptions of dificulty of undergraduate dental students and endodontists in carrying out root canal preparations on resin models (both clear and opaque) and extracted natural teeth. Twenty participants-ten ifth-year students at a Brazilian dental school and ten endodontists with at least ive years' experience in the specialty-performed root canal instrumentation on two samples of each model. Preparation times were recorded, and the participants completed a questionnaire about the anatomical and physical characteristics of these models. The results showed that the time required for performing endodontic procedures in the natural teeth was higher than in the alternative models. The perceptions of the students and specialists regarding some topics on the questionnaire were signiicantly different. The students had more positive opinions about artiicial teeth made of opaque resin, while the specialists had more positive opinions about simulated root canals in clear resin blocks. This study suggests that neither of the alternative models fulilled requirements to replace natural teeth in endodontic teaching; improvements are still necessary to accomplish this goal.Dr.

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