Benefits and Challenges of the Integration of Haptics-Enhanced
VR Training Within Dental Curricula.

Imagine a world where aspiring dentists can feel the subtle resistance of enamel as they drill, experience the delicate pressure needed for a perfect filling, and master complex procedures—all within the safety of a virtual environment. This is the promise of haptics-reinforced virtual reality in dental education, a groundbreaking approach that's set to revolutionize how we train the next generation of oral health professionals. Picture students donning VR headsets and haptic gloves, their hands steady as they navigate through intricate 3D models of teeth and gums. With each movement, they receive instant tactile feedback, mimicking the sensations they'll encounter in real-world procedures. This immersive experience isn't just engaging—it's transformative, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills like never before.

An international research team reviewed the current use of VR haptics and its effects on dental students' learning, guidance, and work. The review was published in the Journal of Dental Education. The researchers searched the PubMed database for research articles published between 2010-2024 that addressed dentistry, education, haptics, teaching, training, and virtual reality. Out of the 667 articles meeting the search criteria, 42 were selected for detailed analysis. Results from a then ongoing international survey of dental educators on the use of virtual-haptic training in teaching were also included.

The results indicated that virtual-haptic training has proven to be a useful tool complementing simulation teaching in dentistry. However, validation of VR haptic-based simulators is considered crucial, and their suitability as a primary teaching method for dental manual skills still requires further research. According to the researchers, in the future, this method could be used to assess the skills and competencies of dental students and dentists.
Although VR haptic training takes place in a digital virtual environment, students have been found to be able to effectively transfer the manual skills learned this way to real-life situations. For dental educators, this technology offers more options for practicing manual skills at different stages of education. VR haptic solutions provide individualized guidance and feedback, helping students master important manual skills. It also improves engagement with studies and learning motivation. VR haptics can offer solutions to challenges in dental education in both preclinical and clinical phases. It can address some shortcomings of current teaching methods.

However, further research and validation are needed before virtual-haptic training can be considered the primary teaching method for dental manual skills. As technology advances, it may become an increasingly important tool for learning and assessment in the field.