Dentistry is advancing with modern digital technology. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are two such innovations that have innovative implications in modern dentistry.
Traditional digital methods in dentistry usually follow three steps:
- A scanning device captures a digital image.
- The operator adjusts dental aspects digitally, such as tooth position or orientation.
- The updated information is converted to a physical model.
AR and VR simplify and enhance these steps. These systems use different types of tools to improve clinical practice and learning. AR often relies on devices like monitor-based interfaces, monocular systems, and head-mounted displays. These tools help overlap digital information onto real-world clinical data. In dentistry, AR is useful for showing digital data directly on the patient.
On the other hand, VR uses advanced software and hardware to create fully digital 3D environments. In VR, the user is fully immersed in a virtual world. Sensors and displays simulate real-life sensations. This allows users to practice dental procedures that feel very close to reality. VR applications are commonly used in dental training. They let students practice on virtual patients and get immediate feedback.
New technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics are also transforming dentistry. Their difference with AR and VR is that AR and VR systems create new experiences, but AI and Robotics focus on solving problems and performing tasks like humans. AI uses algorithms to learn from data and solve specific problems and robotics helps repeat clinical procedures with accuracy.
This blog highlights how Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are used in dental practice.
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Applications in Teaching Dental Morphology
Anatomy is often taught using static 2D images such as lecture slides, textbooks, and flashcards. However, understanding 3D structures from 2D images can be difficult. 3D virtual models make it easier for students to study anatomy by providing an immersive and engaging learning experience. These virtual environments help students improve their spatial understanding, especially those who struggle to visualize 3D structures.
AR and VR also enhance learning about tooth morphology and features such as shape, position, size, and internal structure. Interactive software allows students to select, move, and view teeth from different angles. These tools even enable students to see through transparent tooth structures or navigate root canals.
Please watch this VR software developed for studying tooth morphology to see how these technologies make learning more engaging and interactive.
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Applications in Pre-Clinical Education
A significant part of dental education focuses on teaching clinical skills. Traditionally, dentists trained directly on patients. Today, dental schools use patient simulators with dental models to replicate real treatments. These simulators help students improve their hand-eye coordination and manual skills. During training, students rely on tutors for feedback to learn the procedures before moving to the next step.
AR and VR are innovative tools for pre-clinical education. They allow students to practice independently. While traditional simulators struggle to convey tactile sensations, VR and MR address this with pressure sensors and instant feedback.
Like traditional simulators, VR and MR simulators include digital teeth models, handpieces with air and water systems, and various digital burs. These tools give instant feedback to students. They help students fully utilize lab time and develop manual skills and prepares them to work with real patients confidently.
See full Video here.
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Applications in Clinical Practice
In dentistry, AR is primarily used for oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental implant placement, and orthognathic surgery. AR devices combine medical information, images, and data with real-world views. Unlike conventional systems where surgeons look away from the operative field to check data, AR displays this information directly on the surgical field and thus surgical risks decrease.
AR-guided systems are also used for implant positioning. Modern AR systems show surgical data without requiring the surgeon to look away. But, during implant placement, AR can selectively show only the most relevant information. As a result, surgeons focus better, saves time, and reduces costs.
Orthognathic surgery is another main application of AR in dentistry. AR-based navigation systems provide real-time overlaid images of surgical views and virtual plans. Advanced AR tools can also practice complex surgeries, like removing part of the jaw and replacing it with a piece of bone from another part of the body. They let surgeons figure out the best way to connect blood vessels and tissues.
VR is also used in orthognathic surgery for training. VR systems simulate procedures like bone sawing, drilling, and fixation with haptic feedback. Some VR platforms allow surgeons to interact with the virtual environment using hand-held controllers which creates a natural and immersive training experience.
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Applications in Dental Phobia
Around 50–60% of people experience fear or anxiety about dental procedures. Managing fear-related behaviors is one of the most challenging parts of dental care. Patients with dental phobia, known as “odontophobia,” often visit the dentist only when their condition becomes severe. Fear can interfere with receiving proper dental care.
In Vivo Exposure Therapy (IVET) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) are effective treatments for dental phobia. IVET involves confronting patients directly with objects or situations that cause anxiety. This helps reduce their fear over time and is considered the best approach for treating specific dental fears. VRET is a newer alternative to IVET. It uses VR environments to gradually expose patients to anxiety-causing situations. This approach is safer because it allows patients to face their fears gradually and in a controlled way.
VRET works because it makes patients feel “present” in the virtual environment, which is a key factor for its success. Other methods, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, nitrous oxide, and intravenous sedatives, are also used to reduce patient pain and discomfort during dental care.
Using 3D sound enhances the VR experience. Binaural audio, which simulates sound in three dimensions using regular headphones, makes the virtual environment feel more real. This immersive audio helps calm and relax patients. A well-designed audio experience can improve the patient’s state of mind, making VR a powerful tool for distraction and relaxation during dental treatments.
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Applications in Patient Education
Education and motivation play a key role in helping people understand their oral health. These methods inform patients about oral diseases and encourage better oral care at home. Oral health education improves attitudes and hygiene practices. It also helps prevent dental plaque, promotes healthy gums, and reduces cavities.
AR and VR are useful tools for educating both children and adults. These technologies aim to improve oral hygiene by making learning fun and engaging. Using games or interactive programs, AR and VR motivate patients to prevent oral diseases. They turn oral care education into an exciting experience.
For children, educational games are especially effective. For example, when a child brushes incorrectly, the system gives visual feedback to guide them. This helps children learn and correct their brushing techniques. However, more research is needed to fully understand how VR can improve education and oral health care in the future.
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Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
AI is widely used in diagnostics and prognosis prediction in dentistry. AI-based dentistry systems are used for caries detection, diagnosing oral cancers, and evaluating working lengths in endodontics. Studies have shown that AI can predict dental caries based on clinical findings, lifestyle, and demographics. Also, data mining, another AI feature, which is used for identifying hidden relationships in large datasets, has revealed how dental restoration materials affect their lifespan. Dentists collect the data, while AI extracts meaningful insights.
Robotics is another promising technology in dentistry. Human-controlled robots can perform dental procedures like removing caries, completing endodontic treatments, and preparing crowns and bridges. Robotics continues to expand its role in dental care, offering greater precision and efficiency. Robots can also prepare teeth for procedures like veneersand crowns with the same accuracy as human dentists.
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Conclusion
Modern digital technologies have the potential to transform dentistry in both education and clinical practice. These tools can help students improve their knowledge and practical skills. For dental clinicians, they offer valuable support in daily practice.
Although AR, VR, AI and Robotics show great promise in dentistry, their current use is still mostly experimental. These modern approaches when reached to their full potential can ensure high-quality and efficient dental care, and can reshape the way dentistry is taught and practiced.
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Reference
Monterubbianesi, R.; Tosco, V.; Vitiello, F.; Orilisi, G.; Fraccastoro, F.; Putignano, A.; Orsini, G. Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality in Dentistry: A Narrative Review on the Existing Platforms and Future Challenges. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12,
877.
https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020877
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
AR overlays digital information onto real-world clinical settings, assisting in procedures like implant placement, surgery, and patient education through real-time guidance and visualization.
Virtual Reality simulates realistic environments for training, distraction therapy for dental anxiety, and patient education, improving skills, engagement, and relaxation.
VR reduces dental anxiety by immersing patients in calming virtual environments, providing effective distraction and relaxation during procedures.
AR enhances surgical precision by displaying real-time data directly on the operative field, reducing risks, improving focus, and saving time.
Dental simulation uses AR, VR, or physical models to help students practice clinical skills safely, enhancing confidence, dexterity, and knowledge before working with real patients.
Research shows VR effectively distracts patients, reduces pain awareness, and calms anxiety by immersing them in engaging virtual environments.
AI can enhance diagnostics, treatment planning, and predictive analytics, improving efficiency and precision. However, widespread adoption requires addressing cost, operability, and further research.
