Abstract In a series of papers published since 2017 the author introduced a simple alternative of the $n$-simplex type, to enhance the accuracy of approximations of second-order boundary value problems subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions, posed on smooth curved domains. This technique is based upon trial functions consisting of piecewise polynomials defined on straight-edged triangular or tetrahedral meshes, interpolating the Dirichlet boundary conditions at points of the true boundary. In contrast, the test functions are defined by the standard degrees of freedom associated with the underlying method for polytopic domains. While the mathematical analysis of the method for Lagrange and Hermite methods for two-dimensional second- and fourth-order problems was carried out in earlier paper by the author this paper is devoted to the study of the three-dimensional case. Well-posedness, uniform stability and optimal a priori error estimates in the energy norm are proved for a tetrahedron-based Lagrange family of finite elements. Novel error estimates in the $L^2$-norm, for the class of problems considered in this work, are also proved. A series of numerical examples illustrates the potential of the new technique. In particular, its superior accuracy at equivalent cost, as compared to the isoparametric technique, is highlighted.