Journal Article

Effect of a virtual reality simulator for preclinical instruction of operative dentistry on level of competence of undergraduate dental students

Mahrooz, Mohammad Hossein, Farzaneh, Fatemeh, Rezvani, Gita, Ahmady, Soleiman, Heidaridarani, Mohammad Mehdi, Ardakani, Fahimeh Dehestani

2025

Overview

Background This study aimed to assess the effect of a virtual reality (VR) simulator for instruction of restorative dentistry on the level of competence of undergraduate dental students. Methods This case-control study was conducted on 55 third-year dental students, who were randomly assigned to the intervention ( n  = 30) and control ( n  = 25) groups. Both groups received the same theoretical instruction for preparation of a Class I cavity in a mandibular first molar. The control group then practiced cavity preparation on acrylic teeth for 8 h. The intervention group practiced by using a VR simulator for 4 h and practicing on acrylic teeth for 4 h. Both groups participated in a pretest on acrylic teeth. The intervention group had one posttest after using the VR simulator and another posttest after practicing on acrylic teeth. The control group also had two posttests after the first and second phases of practice. The performance of the two groups was scored blindly by three examiners. Data were analyzed by independent and paired t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test (alpha = 0.05). Results The improvement in overall performance was significantly greater in the intervention group than the control group ( P  < 0.05). Progression in the first step (pretest-posttest 1) was significantly greater in 5 out of 9 criteria in the intervention group than the control group ( P  < 0.05). Progression in the second step (posttest 1-posttest 2) was significantly greater in the intervention group than the control group in 6 out of 9 criteria ( P  < 0.05). The reduction in catastrophic errors in the first posttest compared to pretest was significantly greater in the intervention group than the control group ( P  = 0.000 for the VR group and P  = 0.006 for the control group). Conclusions VR simulation can improve the quality of learning of preclinical restorative dentistry, and may be used as an educational supplement in dental curricula.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Addition / Attrition (Research Studies) / Case-Control Studies / Check Lists / Clinical Competence / Cognition & reasoning / Cognitive ability / Competence / Computer Simulation / Computer Use / Content Validity / Control Groups / Conventional Instruction / Correlation / Curricula / Data collection / Dental Evaluation / Dental Schools / Dentistry / Dentistry, operative / Dentistry, Operative - education / Education / Education, Dental - methods / Education, dental, graduate / Educational aspects / Educational assessment / Educational Benefits / Educational Measurement / Educational Objectives / Effect Size / Ethics / Feedback / Female / Geometric Concepts / Graduate Students / High fidelity simulation training / Humans / Influence of Technology / Integrated Curriculum / Interrater Reliability / Learner Engagement / Learning / Learning Processes / Male / Medical Education / Mentors / Methods / Oral surgery / Outcomes of Education / Patient safety / Random Allocation / Simulation / Simulation methods / Skills / Students / Students, Dental / Study and teaching / Theory of Medicine/Bioethics / Virtual Reality / Young Adult