Evaluating the Effectiveness of Screen-Based Haptic Virtual Reality Simulators in Preclinical Prosthodontic Crown...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Medical Simulation
• Psychomotor Skill Development

Background:

• Crown preparation is a complex psychomotor skill crucial in dental education.
• Traditional typodont training is effective but resource-intensive and lacks individualization.
• Haptic virtual reality simulators (HVRSs) offer a potential adjunct but their skill transfer efficacy is uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if 3 hours of self-directed HVRS training enhances undergraduate dental students' physical typodont crown preparation.
• To assess changes in self-confidence and student perceptions of HVRS training.
• To exploratorily assess manual dexterity using the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT).

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involved 44 dental students, randomly assigned to an HVRS training group (n=22) or a control group (n=22).
• The HVRS group underwent 3 hours of training over one week; the control group received none.
• Crown preparation quality was assessed using PrepCheck and a blinded examiner; manual dexterity was measured by GPT; self-confidence and perceptions were surveyed.

Main Results:

• The HVRS group showed no statistically significant improvement in overall crown preparation quality compared to the control group (11.9 vs 10.9; P=.24).
• A potential improvement in total occlusal convergence was observed in the HVRS group but lacked statistical significance after correction.
• Manual dexterity improved in both groups, though the control group demonstrated significantly faster performance post-intervention. Self-confidence levels were similar, with slightly lower reported very low confidence in the HVRS group. Qualitative feedback indicated value in procedural understanding and practice but noted limited realism and tactile feedback.

Conclusions:

• Three hours of self-directed HVRS training did not significantly improve overall crown preparation quality or general self-confidence in dental students.
• Preliminary evidence suggests HVRS may help master specific geometric parameters, such as total occlusal convergence.
• Further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and stratified baseline dexterity are recommended to clarify the optimal role of HVRS in dental education.