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 Teaching cases Training in dental treatments with AR simulator

Training in dental treatments with AR simulator

Short discription

Students practise treatments via a simulator prior to treating real patients 

Motivation

  • The artificial dental models otherwise used for training are expensive to produce. By using the VR training simulator, the students can practise over and over again at no extra cost. 

  • Students have not previously had a learning environment where they can practise dental treatments repeatedly. 

Video: Training of dental treatment skills with AR simulator

      

Learning objectives

  • Training of competences in dental treatments prior to treating real patients.

Execution:

THE PROCESS

Description of the AR simulator

The students practise different dental treatments using the training simulator SIMtoCARE, which uses virtual reality (VR).

The simulator consists of a phantom head, a VR screen, haptic tools and a control panel where you can choose the treatment you want to practise.

The simulator provides haptic feedback to give students a realistic experience and the system provides feedback on the execution of the treatment.   
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Individual

  • The student accesses the simulator and selects a treatment related to the teaching of the day.   

  • While the student is training via the simulator, they look at the phantom head through the VR screen, where they can see the area of the 'patient' being treated. The simulator provides haptic feedback during the training, so it feels like performing the treatment on a real patient, even though the instruments are not in direct contact with the phantom head.  

  • The system provides feedback on the execution of the treatment along the way and states how much time has been spent. If the execution is not satisfactorily carried out, the student can start all over again.  

  • The student can repeat the treatment until they are comfortable performing the treatment.  

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After the class

 Students are encouraged to use the simulators as much as they like outside of classes, so that they can practise their skills and feel confident when performing the various treatments. 

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
  • The VR training simulator "SIMtoCARE Dente"
  • The simulator provides students with feedback during the treatment. 

Reflections

Outcomes:

  • It gives the students great peace of mind that they can practise the treatment in a simulation where nothing happens if they do something wrong.

  • Use of the simulator often results in a form of gamification, where students compete internally to perform the most precise treatment in the shortest time. 

      

Challenges:

  • SIMtoCARE Dente simulators are expensive, and the department therefore only has a limited number at its disposal, meaning that it is not always available to the students.. 

Basic information

Educator Jan Wolff 
Faculty and department Health: Department of Dentistry and Oral Health 
Degree programme Odontology
Level of study Bachelor’s and Master’s 
Course/subject Practical dentistry and oral surgery 
Number of students 40 students
Extent Aktivity
Teaching format  Clinical teaching 

Contact

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Revised 04.03.2025
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Nina Bang Morgensol