The virtual assessment in dental education: A narrative review

The shift towards virtual assessment in dental education represents a significant advancement over traditional evaluation methods, offering new opportunities for assessing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This review examines the use of virtual assessment tools within the context of dental education. A narrative literature review was conducted, analyzing studies published between 2000 and 2024, sourced from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase. From the initial search, 13 studies were selected for qualitative synthesis. The results indicate that virtual assessments, facilitated by technologies such as computer-based simulations and remote objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), have enhanced the accuracy and comprehensiveness of dental student evaluations. These methods allow for more consistent and objective assessments of competencies, addressing some limitations of traditional practical exams. However, the integration of virtual assessments presents challenges, including the need for significant investment in technology, infrastructure, and training for faculty and students. Despite these challenges, the review concludes that virtual assessment has the potential to become a cornerstone of modern dental education, offering a scalable and adaptable solution for evaluating dental competencies in diverse learning environments.