New dental simulator for microsurgical training preliminary overview.

OBJECTIVE To present a new simulator designed at the Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre (Cáceres) which offers an integral, effective and viable training system that can be used for learning microsurgical techniques. STUDY DESIGN A square methacrylate block was used. Animal jaws were fixed to the sides by means of butterfly screws. This block also has a drainage tube to facilitate the escape of fluids. RESULTS Excellent results were obtained using this simulator in microsurgical suturing training in Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. CONCLUSIONS We believe that this simulator is an essential component in microsurgical training. It is an ethically and morally valid training method with which various suturing techniques can be practised before using live animals and before applying these to daily clinical practice.