Evaluation of Tooth Preparation in a Haptic Three-Dimensional Virtual Reality Dental Training Simulator: A Questionnaire Study

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the use of a three-dimensional (3D) haptic virtual reality (VR) dental training simulator for tooth preparation practice in preclinical dental education.
Methods: Fifty-six 4th-year dental students at Lokman Hekim University used the Virteasy VR dental training simulator to perform a tooth preparation on the mandibular canine. Participants subsequently completed an 18-item questionnaire assessing four categories: Content, anatomy, applicability, and usability. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyze questionnaire responses and examine associations with demographic variables.
Results: Most participants rated the simulator positively in terms of content quality, anatomical accuracy, and usability. Female participants particularly highlighted its potential for future development and its ability to facilitate control over tooth preparation processes. Statistically significant correlations were found between specific questionnaire items, indicating parallel scoring trends among participants. In addition, students reported that the simulator enhanced clinical skills and reduced the gap between model practice and real patient scenarios. Most participants did not report discomfort, such as headaches, during use.
Discussion and Conclusion: The haptic 3D VR dental simulator is a valuable educational tool that complements traditional methods in dental education. It offers advantages such as reduced material waste, enhanced anatomical understanding, and opportunities for repeated practice.

Keywords: Dental education; Preclinical training; Tooth preparation; Virtual reality