Cronodent I, 3D interactive manual for self-learning of the dental chronology of equines.
Abstract: One of a veterinarian's routine tasks is animal identification, with age being a crucial factor in the identification and evaluation of individuals. Knowledge of the morphological changes in animal dentition used to determine their age is essential in veterinary education. Today's students increasingly prefer innovative learning tools that incorporate 3D anatomical models over traditional 2D resources. As part of a teaching innovation project at the University of Córdoba, Spain, new educational materials were developed to aid students in identifying the age of animals using 3D images of equine incisor teeth. The main objectives of this initiative were to develop an app, Cronodent I, to support learning of equine dental chronology through 3D-scanned images of horses' dental arches. A second objective was to evaluate students' perception and acceptance of these new teaching materials, as well as their impact on academic performance. For this purpose, 17 equine dental arches were 3D scanned and incorporated into the Cronodent I app. The app's usefulness was evaluated through a student satisfaction survey ( = 97) and, success rate and performance scores ( = 453). The app was easily accessible and received positive ratings for functionality and usability. The scores improved significatively ( < 0.05) from 4.37 to 4.86, following the success rate a similar trend: it increased more after the Cronodent I app became available to students on the Moodle platform (50.35% vs. 57.51%), but dropped to 48.76% when the app was accessible only on Android mobile devices. Cronodent I proved to be an effective educational tool for developing students' skills in determining horse age based on dentition type and tooth wear stages. Cronodent I supports self-directed learning and offers mobile access to anatomical materials and resources, with accessibility emerging as a key factor in its overall success. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of Cronodent I on the learning outcomes of veterinary students to determine its effectiveness.
Copyright © 2025 Rodero, González-Martínez, Diz and Rodero.
Publication Date: 2025-10-02 PubMed ID: 41112157PubMed Central: PMC12529936DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1597710Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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Overview
- This study developed and evaluated Cronodent I, a 3D interactive app designed to help veterinary students learn how to determine the age of horses by examining their teeth.
- The research assessed the app’s usability, student acceptance, and its impact on academic performance in comparison to traditional learning methods.
Background and Rationale
- Veterinarians routinely identify and evaluate animals, with age being a critical identification factor.
- Age determination often relies on observing morphological changes in animal dentition, especially in equines (horses).
- Veterinary students need strong knowledge of dental morphology to accurately estimate age but traditionally use 2D resources such as textbooks or images.
- There is a growing preference among students for innovative, interactive learning tools that incorporate 3D anatomical models for better visualization and understanding.
- The University of Córdoba aimed to innovate teaching by developing an educational tool featuring 3D images of horse incisor teeth to improve self-directed learning.
Development of Cronodent I App
- Seventeen equine dental arches were scanned in 3D to capture detailed anatomical structures of horses’ incisor teeth.
- The resulting 3D scans were programmed into a mobile application named Cronodent I.
- The application enables students to interactively explore the dental anatomy and observe various stages of tooth wear related to age.
- Cronodent I was made accessible primarily on Android mobile devices and through the Moodle learning platform.
- The app supports self-learning by providing mobile access to anatomical resources and promotes flexibility in studying schedules.
Evaluation Methodology
- Student satisfaction and perception of the app were measured via a survey involving 97 participants.
- Academic performance was assessed using success rates and performance scores from a larger group of 453 students before and after the introduction of Cronodent I.
- Performance improvements were statistically analyzed to determine the significance of Cronodent I’s impact.
- Comparisons were made between periods when students accessed the app through Moodle versus only on Android devices to evaluate accessibility effects.
Findings
- Cronodent I had high accessibility and received positive feedback for its functionality and usability.
- Student performance scores improved significantly (p < 0.05) after access to the app increased—from an average score of 4.37 before to 4.86 after app availability.
- Success rates showed a similar pattern: an initial rise when the app was offered on the Moodle platform (from 50.35% to 57.51%), but declined to 48.76% when available only on Android devices.
- The accessibility of the app through different platforms played a crucial role in its effectiveness as a learning tool.
- Overall, Cronodent I effectively helped students develop skills for aging horses based on the morphology and wear stages of dentition.
Conclusions and Implications
- Cronodent I is a successful example of an educational innovation that enhances self-directed learning in veterinary dentistry.
- The integration of 3D interactive models improves student engagement and learning outcomes relating to equine dental chronology.
- Providing mobile access and a user-friendly interface are key factors in adoption and academic improvement.
- Despite positive results, the study suggests that further longitudinal research is necessary to fully assess the long-term effects of Cronodent I on veterinary education.
- The study supports wider adoption of 3D digital tools to supplement traditional teaching methods in veterinary and potentially other biological sciences.
Cite This Article
APA
Rodero E, González-Martínez A, Diz A, Rodero J.
(2025).
Cronodent I, 3D interactive manual for self-learning of the dental chronology of equines.
Front Vet Sci, 12, 1597710.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1597710 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Production, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Teaching Innovation Team 56-GID-UCO, Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Animal Production, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Teaching Innovation Team 56-GID-UCO, Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Engineering, Synergya Tech, Cordoba, Spain.
Conflict of Interest Statement
JR was employed by Synergya Tech. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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