The Implication of Virtual Reality Haptic Simulators on Cavity Preparation Proficiency in Dental Preclinical Education: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose: Preclinical education is an essential part of the dentistry curriculum. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the contribution of the virtual reality haptic simulator to the improvement of cavity preparation skills in preclinical education. Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of virtual reality was evaluated on the improvement of cavity preparation skills of preclinical students. Three separate databases were searched, and Endnote 20 software was used to duplicate, track, and manage the selection process. Results: After removing duplicate records, a total of 622 articles were initially retrieved in this study. All records were scanned, and 98 articles were evaluated for eligibility. Articles that did not meet the eligibility criteria of our study were excluded. 24 full-text articles were approved for review. Conclusion: Including virtual reality, haptic simulators in the curriculum can be a beneficial tool for students' manual dexterity and improvement of clinical practice.

Keywords

• dental education
• haptic simulator
• manual dexterity
• preclinical training
• virtual reality