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A recent international study involving 156 institutions has highlighted a strong enthusiasm for VR-haptic technology in dental education, though various barriers hinder its broader implementation. This research, spearheaded by the University of Eastern Finland, is detailed in Frontiers in Dental Medicine.
VR-haptic technology, which integrates virtual reality with tactile feedback, is increasingly utilized in dental training, enriching traditional preclinical skills development. The study aimed to gather insights into dental educators’ views on the viability and application of VR-haptics, as well as to obtain suggestions for enhancing these systems.
Among the 387 participants surveyed, 35% identified technical shortcomings as significant issues, such as a lack of haptic accuracy and limited procedural variability, which can negatively affect the transition of skills to real patient interactions. Financial limitations were also highlighted, with 28% of institutions expressing difficulty in acquiring the necessary devices, leading to access issues for students.
Furthermore, resistance to adopting these new technologies is evident, with 24% of respondents indicating low acceptance levels among both educators and students, stemming from potential disruptions to established teaching practices. Additionally, 13% of respondents pointed to the demands of curriculum modification and the training required for effective implementation as major challenges.
To overcome these obstacles, the study’s authors advocate for advancements in both hardware and software, with an emphasis on finding ways to reduce costs and providing focused training for faculty to showcase the advantages of VR-haptics in education. They assert that future progress relies heavily on collaborative efforts across various dental fields—particularly restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, and endodontics—to create authentic, discipline-specific training experiences.
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