A dental model tray (10) for use in forming a dental model from casting material poured thereon has upstanding projections (14) that extend into the hardened, dental model. The dental model tray (10) comprises a substantially planar base wall (12) that forms the floor upon which dental casting material is poured in forming a dental model. A plurality of spaced apart, elongate projections (14) extending upwardly from an upper face of the base wall (12) so that an elongate axis of each of the projections (14) is substantially perpendicular to the upper face of the base wall (12). The projections (14) and the base wall are formed integrally of polymeric material. The projections (14) are arranged in first and second, substantially parallel rows, with the projections (14) in the first row being offset from corresponding projections (14) in the second row so that any two adjacent projections (14) in one row and an adjacent, corresponding projection (14) in another row are spaced from each other in a triangular configuration. Each of the projections (14) have upstanding sidewalls that taper inwardly from their attachment to the base wall (12) toward a central, upright axis of each of the projections (14) so that the sidewall of each of the projections (14) makes an angle of between about 82 to 88 degrees with the upper face of the base wall (12).