A new comprehensive literature review of the benefits and challenges of integrating haptics-enhanced virtual reality training, or VR-haptics for short, in dental education curricula highlights the transformative potential of VR-haptics in dental education.

Over the past decade, VR-haptic simulation has emerged as a promising tool in dental education, offering innovative training opportunities to complement traditional practices. Published in Journal of Dental Education, the review by an international team of researchers, led by the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Eastern Finland, examined the current applications and impact of VR-haptics in dental learning, practice and instruction.

The researchers conducted a thorough literature search in PubMed, focusing on research published between January 2010 and January 2024. The search terms included dentistry, education, haptic, teaching, training and virtual reality. Out of 667 initial matches, 42 articles were selected for in-depth analysis. Additionally, findings from a global educator survey on VR-haptics usage in dental education were incorporated in the analysis.

According to the study, VR-haptic simulation has demonstrated significant value as a complementary tool in dental simulation practice. However, validation was identified as a key factor for the acceptance of VR-haptic simulators, and further research and verification is needed before VR-haptics could be considered a primary method of learning hand skills in dental education. The researchers conclude that in the future, VR-haptic simulation could be used as an assessment tool for students’ and clinicians’ credentialing process.

“Despite the digital nature of VR-haptics-enhanced training, students have shown the ability to transfer hand skills effectively to real-world scenarios. Educators now have more options in structuring preclinical and clinical practical education, thanks to VR-haptic technology. The individualised training and feedback provided by VR-haptic systems help students master essential techniques while boosting engagement and motivation,” says Dr Szabolcs Felszeghy of the University of Eastern Finland, the first author of the study.

“VR-haptics-supported dental education offers significant potential in addressing challenges in preclinical and clinical training. It may help mitigate certain limitations of current educational methods. However, continued research and validation are essential before VR-haptics can be considered a primary method for developing hand skills in dental education. As the technology advances, it may play an increasingly important role in both learning and assessment within the dental profession,” says Professor Murat Mutluay of the University of Eastern Finland.