Content area
Background
Virtual Reality (VR) technology has demonstrated a promising prospect for enhancing endodontic learning in undergraduate dental students by boosting their procedural skills, accuracy, and confidence.
Aim
To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) simulation in endodontic education among undergraduate dental students, with a specific focus on four key outcomes: procedural accuracy, enhancement of student confidence, reduction in procedural errors, and overall learner satisfaction.
Methods
An exhaustive literature search was carried out in December 2024 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies, and cross-sectional studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included in the review. Risk of bias was appraised as follows: Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 (RoB2) tool for RCTs; Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies; National Institute of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for before-and-after studies; and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool for non-randomized studies without a comparator group.
Results
Fifteen studies were included in the final analysis. VR-based training showed statistically significant differences between the pre and post-test scores regarding procedural accuracy and efficiency for tasks at the end of endodontics. These results showed that VR training leads to greater confidence and skill levels in students than traditional approaches, improved retention of knowledge, and a reduction in errors. Advantages notwithstanding, limitations around cost and accessibility were observed.
Conclusion
VR simulation is an effective, valuable tool in the endodontic education toolbox. Further studies should assess cost-effectiveness and long-term clinical performance effects.
Details
Retention (Psychology);
Educational Benefits;
Control Groups;
Influence of Technology;
Graduate Students;
Educational Technology;
Participant Characteristics;
Meta Analysis;
Simulated Environment;
Reference Materials;
Databases;
Search Strategies;
Randomized Controlled Trials;
Accuracy;
Information Seeking;
Information Transfer;
Computer Software Reviews;
Cost Effectiveness;
Comparative Education;
Comparative Analysis;
Information Sources;
Outcomes of Education;
Database Management Systems;
Learning Modules
; Arjumand, Bilal 1
; Klarkodi, Shaul Hameed 2
; Atique, Sundus 3 ; Abulhamael, Ayman M. 4 ; Zafar, Muhammad Sohail 5
1 Qassim University, Department of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412602.3) (ISNI:0000 0000 9421 8094)
2 Qassim University, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412602.3) (ISNI:0000 0000 9421 8094)
3 Qatar University, College of Dental Medicine, Doha, Qatar (GRID:grid.412603.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 0634 1084)
4 King Abdulaziz University, Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412125.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 0619 1117)
5 Ajman University, Department of Clinical Science, College of Dentistry, Ajman, United Arab Emirates (GRID:grid.444470.7) (ISNI:0000 0000 8672 9927); Ajman University, Center of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman, United Arab Emirates (GRID:grid.444470.7) (ISNI:0000 0000 8672 9927); University of Jordan, School of Dentistry, Amman, Jordan (GRID:grid.9670.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2174 4509)