[Dental 3d level simulators in the study of local anesthesia]

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Anesthesiology
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Local anesthesia administration is a critical skill for dental students.
• Traditional training methods may not fully prepare students for clinical practice.
• Developing effective and efficient training protocols is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel training protocol for local anesthesia administration in dental students.
• To compare the effectiveness of different training modalities: skeletal preparations, "Typodont" simulators, and a combined approach.
• To enhance the precision and success rate of local anesthesia injections among dental trainees.

Main Methods:

• Ninety second-year dental students were divided into three groups based on training method.
• Group 1: Training on skeletal preparations with specific effectiveness criteria (mandibular foramina penetration).
• Group 2: Training using "Typodont" simulators with light and sound signal feedback.
• Group 3: Combined approach utilizing both skeletal preparations and "Typodont" simulators.

Main Results:

• The combined training approach demonstrated superior effectiveness in developing local anesthesia skills.
• Students using the combined method showed improved ability to identify anatomical landmarks and perform accurate injections.
• Initial injection success rates were higher with the combined approach, with only 4 students failing on the second attempt.

Conclusions:

• A combined training protocol integrating skeletal preparations and "Typodont" simulators is recommended for dental anesthesia education.
• This integrated approach enhances the identification of anatomical landmarks and skill development for effective local anesthesia delivery.
• The study highlights the necessity of a blended learning strategy for optimizing dental students' proficiency in local anesthesia.