26 February 2025

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Dental Education Tools in Digital Dentistry

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The digitalization of the future world is dramatically changing based on advances in information and communication technology, and the current classroom model seems to have basic difficulties in preparing students for the future of medicine and dentistry.

New trends in teaching armamentarium include computer-based instructions, virtual patients, augmented reality, human patient simulations, and virtual reality. Dentistry is a profession that requires coordinated motor skills in addition to acquired knowledge for the ideal treatment on any individual.

Conventional pre-clinical training was based on the use of cadavers and phantoms, but with the adaptation of technology in dentistry, pre-clinical training has now employed simulation. It provides the opportunity for students to develop psychomotor skills for procedures by practicing pre-clinical, standardized learning competencies before they engage in patient management. Augmented reality is commonly being employed in maxillofacial, restorative, tooth morphology learning, and mastering technique for administering local anesthesia in dentistry. Virtual reality is being employed particularly in pre-treatment implant planning and dental education for students.

The use of haptic technology, like robotics, is also gaining popularity, and facilitates a two-way communication between the user and the environment to better simulate the clinical setting for learning purposes. Innovations in digital technology will lead the way toward a revolution in medical and dental education, allowing learning to be individualized, interactive, and efficient.

Authors: Charis Beltes, Antigoni Delantoni, Kaan Orhan 

Source: https://link.springer.com/