Why VR Haptics matters: enhanced education and improved self-confidence

An interesting study on Virtual Reality (VR) haptics-based training was published recently. It is a good example of how Simodont can be integrated in a dental curriculum and it demonstrates the effectiveness of this technology. 

The study was conducted at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland using Simodont dental trainers and conventional phantom-head teaching methods. It was demonstrated that integrating VR haptics with traditional tooth preparation exercises can significantly improve learning outcomes for dental students. It also showed a notable increase in students’ self-confidence following their practice sessions in the VR haptic environment.

By incorporating Simodont into the curriculum educators provided students with a more diverse and technologically advanced learning experience. Key findings from the research indicate that this approach offers several advantages:

• Improved manual dexterity,
• Enhanced preparation for upcoming courses,
• Increased efficiency in learning tooth preparation techniques,
• Increased student well-being.

A short video of the study can be seen here: https://youtu.be/0UBDOosgv2E

The paper can be found here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37823540/

This approach to dental education not only augments traditional teaching methods, it also provides students with a more flexible and repeatable learning environment. The study’s results suggest that combining VR haptics with conventional practices could revolutionize dental education, ultimately producing more skilled and confident students and future dentists and serves for better oral care.