Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Objective To explore the teaching efficacy of mind mapping combined with digital software-guided surgical planning in case-based teaching for standardized residency training of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Methods A total of 24 residents of the 2024 residency program at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 8 per group). Common clinical disorders in oral surgery ward were set as standardized teaching cases. Group A received conventional lecture-based teaching; Group B adopted conventional teaching supplemented with mind mapping-oriented case teaching; Group C was delivered mind mapping plus digital software-assisted preoperative surgical planning on the basis of conventional teaching. After an 8-week rotation training, teaching outcomes were evaluated through objective practical assessments including case presentation and clinical operative performance, as well as anonymous satisfaction questionnaires. All statistical analyses were performed via SPSS 26.0 software. Results Residents in Group B and Group C achieved significantly higher scores in case presentation compared with Group A (P < 0.05). Group C obtained statistically superior scores in operational stability and procedural integrity of clinical practice versus Group B and Group A (P < 0.05). Questionnaire results demonstrated prominent improvements in overall teaching experience and core clinical competency in Group B and Group C; Group C showed remarkable advantages in case analysis, clinical manipulation and individualized therapeutic protocol formulation (P < 0.05). Conclusion The combined teaching mode integrating mind mapping and digital software-guided surgical planning effectively strengthens theoretical knowledge mastery and practical surgical proficiency among oral surgery residents, stimulates autonomous learning enthusiasm and systematic clinical thinking, and substantially improves the overall quality of residency case teaching.</p>