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Design and development of a virtual reality simulation for dental implant prosthesis training
Elham Monaghesh1, Ramin Negahdari2, Taha Samad-Soltani3
1Department of Health Information Technology, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Objectives:
The impressioning phase of implant prostheses requires high precision and precise spatial perception, but existing virtual reality (VR) simulation systems do not specifically address it. This study aimed to design and develop a virtual reality-based simulator to teach the open-tray implant impressioning (removal) procedure using a user-centered design approach.
Methods:
This descriptive-developmental study was conducted in four stages: (1) elicitation of clinical, educational, and technical requirements through literature review and expert consultation; (2) validation and prioritization of requirements using focus group discussions with prosthetists and medical informatics specialists; (3) scenario design and technical development of the virtual reality environment using Unity 3D and Blender software; and (4) qualitative validation of the simulator content by experts. The simulator was developed for the Meta Quest 3 headset and included both training and evaluation modes with natural hand-tracking interaction.
Results:
A total of 34 requirements were identified and validated, including 12 clinical requirements, 11 educational requirements, and 11 technical requirements. Based on these requirements, a simulation scenario with 22 sequential steps representing the complete workflow of open tray impressioning was developed. The simulator included 3D anatomical models, physics-based interactions, and real-time visual and auditory feedback. Expert review confirmed the clinical accuracy and educational suitability of the simulator after iterative design refinements.
Conclusions:
A virtual reality-based simulator for teaching the open tray implant impressioning procedure was designed and developed using a user-centered framework. The simulator provides a structured virtual environment for practicing procedural steps prior to clinical application. Further studies are required to evaluate the usability and educational effectiveness of the simulator among dental students.