Objectives: This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional (3D) printed mandible model based on real bone scanning data, enhanced by segmentation of the mandibular canal from computed tomography (CT) images and the digital incorporation of the inferior alveolar nerve. The primary objective was to create an accessible and reusable educational tool that facilitates students’ understanding of the internal anatomy of the mandible without reliance on cadaveric material.
Methods: An adult human mandible was scanned using CT with 0.625 mm slice thickness. The CT data were imported into 3D Slicer (version 5.10.0), where the mandible and the mandibular canal was segmented. The resulting 3D models were refined in Blender software, and the inferior alveolar nerve was digitally added and integrated into the canal before 3D printing.
The final mesh was printed at 1:1 scale using white Hyper PLA filament on a Bambu Lab X1E printer, and the canal structures and alveolar nerve were highlighted with acrylic paint. Results: The model preserved fine surface details and showed no visible deformation or missing parts. The printed model required only 34 g of filament (~0.98 USD) and two hours to produce.
The added canal and inferior alveolar nerve were clearly visible and could be related to external landmarks, improving the interpretability of the mandible’s internal anatomy. Conclusion: This simple and low-cost workflow produced an anatomically accurate and visually clear mandible model. The model may support anatomy education, especially in settings where access to real bone or cadaveric specimens is limited.