Effectiveness of virtual simulation and jaw model for undergraduate periodontal teaching

Background The current study explored the effect of virtual simulation and jaw model on development of preclinical periodontal skills in undergraduate students. The study also sought to explore effectiveness of VR in periodontal preclinical training and determine adequate performance mode in basic periodontal education to improve future preclinical training strategies. Methods Sixty volunteer sophomores and juniors from the stomatology department in Lanzhou university were enrolled to the current study. Participants were randomly assigned into four groups (each group, n = 15) including the traditional jaw model group (Group J) which was the control group, virtual reality group (Group V), virtual-jaw group (Group V-J), and jaw-virtual group (Group J-V). Participants received training on uniform basic periodontal knowledge before completing the first theoretical assessment. Participants further underwent a total 8 h of operation training and completed a second theoretical assessment. Performance of participants was evaluated using the supragingival scaling processes, and clinical operation scores were graded by a blinded professional using an established standard scoring system. Results The findings showed no significant difference in the first theoretical outcomes between the four groups (P > 0.05). The scores of the second theoretical assessment were significantly improved for the V-J and J-V groups (60.00 ± 4.47, 58.33 ± 4.35) compared with the scores of the first theoretical exam (49.67 ± 4.81, 48.00 ± 4.93, P < 0.05). The operation process scores of students in Group V-J and J-V (72.00 ± 5.92; 70.00 ± 3.05) were significantly higher compared with the scores in the other two groups (V: 61.67 ± 7.85; J: 60.67 ± 2.58). The scaling process performance of students in Group V-J and J-V (53.00 ± 3.05; 63.40 ± 4.39) was improved compared with that of students in the other two groups (V: 41.90 ± 5.23; J: 47.40 ± 4.31). Conclusion The findings show that combination of virtual reality and jaw model during periodontal preclinical training increases students’ grades and improves acquiring of professional skills. Findings from the current study indicate that the jaw model should be applied prior to virtual reality to ensure high efficacy.

Evaluation of Dental Students’ Knowledge and Opinion About Learning with Virtual Reality

AIM: Virtual reality (VR) based technologies have been used in dentistry for almost two decades. Dental simulators, treatment planning software, and CAD/CAM systems have evolved significantly over the years, changing both dental education and clinical practice. The purpose of this survey study is to learn the knowledge, opinions, and thoughts of dental students in our country on the use of VR-based dental simulators in education, and to raise awareness on this issue. METHODS: Questions testing participants’ knowledge were based on the data from peer-reviewed dental journals. The survey questions consisting of a total of 25 questions were delivered online via Google Forms (Google Inc., USA) to students who had preclinical training in the dental faculty before the Covid-19 pandemic. The data obtained were evaluated using the descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square test. RESULTS: 422 of the 662 students in the study were female and 240 were male students. 82.3% of the study participants were studying at a state university. 74.6% of the participants in the study stated that they needed more preclinical education. While 89.9% of the students participating in the survey stated that they do not have information about preclinical education with virtual reality, 97.4% stated that they have not used a VR-based dental simulator before. 85.5% of them stated that they feel positive about training in virtual environment with VR-based dental simulator and 86% of them prefer using both VR-based training and phantom models in preclinical training. CONCLUSION: Dental students had overall positive attitudes towards VR-based dental simulator but very few used VR-based dental simulators in education and practice. While using VR-based dental simulators as part of undergraduate and continuing education programs is rapidly advancing in the world, in our country having knowledge about VR-based dental simulators will increase awareness for the development of such technologies and their inclusion in dentistry education.

Department of Simulation Education as a Structural Unit of a Multidisciplinary Accreditation and Simulation Center

For the first time, they started talking about virtual simulation technologies in our country in 2002, when at the Institute. Vishnevsky, a virtual simulator "LapSim" was presented at the Congress of Endosurgeons. Since then, there have been great changes in the development of simulators, mannequins and simulators, teaching methods in preclinical training of students. In this regard, there is a real need to give the simulation center the status of a department and to clearly define the tasks that must be solved in the preparation of students and residents at the preclinical stage.

Influence of Preclinical Training on Root Canal Treatment Technical Quality and Confidence Level of Undergraduate Dental Students

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of exposure to additional preclinical endodontic training on undergraduate students’ technical quality of root canal treatment and overall confidence levels in endodontics. Methods. Technical quality of root canal treatment performed clinically by fifth-year undergraduate students was evaluated and divided into two groups: Group 1, teeth treated by students who had attended both a preclinical endodontic block course and an elective preclinical course. Group 2: teeth treated by students who had not attended the elective preclinical course. All students were also invited to participate in a survey to rate their undergraduate endodontic training and confidence levels performing endodontic treatment. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Person chi-square test, Fisher Freeman Halton exact test, and t-test. A p -value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. There was no significant difference between the two groups in overall obturation quality ( p = 0.619 ). However, more teeth treated by attendees were of adequate obturation length ( p = 0.015 ) and lacked procedural errors ( p = 0.004 ). Significantly more elective course attendees rated their undergraduate endodontic training as adequate ( p = 0.002 ), but there was no significant difference in the level of confidence between the attendees and the non-attendees. Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, additional preclinical training showed minimal effect on overall quality of root canal treatment performed clinically by undergraduate students and did not enhance their confidence levels; however, it was associated with more satisfaction with their undergraduate endodontic education.

Psychomotor Skills in Root Canal Treatment: Influence of Preclinical Training Time on Clinical Performance and Confidence Level of Undergraduate Dental Students

Background: Performing root canal treatment is complex and requires the development of psychomotor skills adapted to working without the advantage of vision. Students have allocated special importance to preclinical training in helping them acquire these skills. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of exposure to additional preclinical training on undergraduate students’ confidence level and clinical performance defined by technical quality and quantity of root canal treatment. Methods: Clinical root canal treatment performed by a cohort of fifth-year undergraduate dental students was followed after half of them attended an additional (elective) endodontic preclinical course the year before. Root canal treatment was radiographically evaluated according to root canal filling length, density and presence of procedural errors. Technical quality and quantity of root canal treatment performed by students who had attended the elective course (attendees) and non-attendees, were compared. All students were also invited to participate in a survey to rate their undergraduate endodontic training and confidence levels performing root canal treatment. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Person chi-square test, Fisher Freeman Halton exact test, and T-test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: No significant difference between the two groups in overall root canal treatment quality (p=0.619) was found. Although elective attendees performed significantly less procedural errors (p=0.004), non-attendees completed more root canal treatments (p=0.012). Despite, no significant difference in the reported level of confidence between the attendees and the non-attendees, significantly more elective attendees rated their undergraduate endodontic training as adequate (p=0.002).Conclusion: While there was no significant difference in overall technical quality of root canal treatment, nor confidence levels, between both groups, undergraduate students who attended additional preclinical training performed significantly fewer procedural errors. Furthermore, students who attended additional preclinical training were more satisfied with their undergraduate endodontic education.

A pilot study: pledge your teeth! The willingness of dental students to donate their teeth

Extracted human teeth is the preferred choice for preclinical training as it simulates the clinical scenario as compared to artificial teeth. However, the increase in the number of dental undergraduates might cause an imbalance in the demand and supply of extracted human teeth. Not only that, extracted human teeth are also needed by researchers for the development of dentistry (e.g. dental pulp stem cells research). This study aimed to evaluate the socio-demographic and preclinical training factors associated with the willingness to donate teeth among dental students of a selected university in Malaysia. The results of thisstudy show that the majority of students were willing to donate their teeth after extraction for educational purposes, followed by keeping their tooth, leaving it behind as clinical waste anddonating it to research. Further research is recommended to determine the willingness of the community or public to donate their teeth to meet the demand for dental schools and researchers in Malaysia.

The Current Situation and Future Prospects of Simulators in Dental Education (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED The application of virtual reality has become increasingly extensive as this technology develops. In dental education, virtual reality is mainly used to assist or replace traditional methods of teaching clinical skills in preclinical training for several subjects, such as endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, implantology and dental surgery. Dental simulators allow repeatable and reversible preclinical training of clinical skills, and they also allow digital evaluation and feedback since they can record the training processes. Preclinical training assisted by dental simulators is economical and environmentally-friendly, as it requires less material for dental skills training. The application of dental simulators in teaching can make up for the deficiency of traditional teaching methods and reduce the teaching burden, improving convenience for both teachers and students. When combined with big data, cloud computing, 5G and deep learning technology, the dental simulator can give students individualized learning assistance and other functions depending on their diverse learning aptitudes in the future, to improve their learning effects.