A pilot study of local anesthesia training using a mixed-reality haptic fidelity model

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Local Anesthesia
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• The inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is a challenging procedure for dental students.
• Limited practice opportunities and low confidence have historically impacted IANB success rates.
• A novel 3D-printed mixed-reality haptic simulator was developed to enhance IANB training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a novel IANB simulator on dental students' confidence and injection accuracy.
• To compare the effectiveness of simulator practice before versus after a laboratory session.
• To assess the simulator's contribution to overall anesthetic success.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-nine dental students participated, divided into two groups (A and B).
• Group A practiced with the simulator before the laboratory session; Group B practiced after.
• Self-reported confidence, injection accuracy, and partner numbness (anesthetic success) were measured.

Main Results:

• Both groups reported increased confidence after simulator use (p < 0.001).
• Group A demonstrated significantly higher anesthetic success (52.6%) compared to Group B (17.6%) (p = 0.029).
• Simulator practice prior to the laboratory session correlated with greater success.

Conclusions:

• The novel IANB simulator effectively enhances self-reported confidence and anesthetic success in dental students.
• Practicing with the simulator before clinical sessions appears more beneficial for achieving IANB success.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term educational benefits of this simulation technology.