Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38087290›Full record

Trial reportBMC medical education2023

Enhancing learning experiences in pre-clinical restorative dentistry: the impact of virtual reality haptic simulators.

Alaa Daud, Manal Matoug-Elwerfelli, Hanin Daas, Daniel Zahra, Kamran Ali

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC medical education, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
36citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

36 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  8. Beyond the Drill: Can Digital Gadgets Redefine the Future of Dental Education?European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alaa DaudRestorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. adaud@qu.edu.qa.
Manal Matoug-ElwerfelliRestorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Hanin DaasDental Laboratories, College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Daniel ZahraAssessment and Psychometrics, University of Plymouth, Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, Plymouth, UK.
Kamran AliOral Surgery, Associate Dean Academic Affairs, College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUtilization of Virtual Reality haptic simulation (VRHS) to aid in the training of various pre-clinical skills is of recent interest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of VRHS in restorative dentistry on the learning experiences and perceptions of dental students.

methodsAn interventional study design was utilized to recruit third year students. All participants provided informed consents and were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1: Initially performed a Class I cavity preparation with the VRHS, followed by the same exercise using the phantom head/ acrylic typodont teeth in a conventional simulation environment (CSE). Group 2: Initially performed Class I preparations in a CSE, followed by the same exercise using VRHS. Both groups performed the exercises on a lower right first molar. To understand students' perception, an online questionnaire was circulated. Data analysis involved Chi-square tests, independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests using the R statistical environment package.

resultsA total of 23 dental students participated in this study. Although student's perceptions were similar in both groups, a strong agreement that VRHS training might be used to supplement standard pre-clinical training was noted. Advancements to the VRHS hardware and software are required to bridge the gap and provide a smooth transition to clinics.

conclusionNovice dental students generally perceived VRHS as a useful tool for enhancing their manual dexterity. Dental institutions should endorse virtual reality technology with caution, ensuring a planned integration into the curriculum to optimize benefit. Feedback is pivotal to effective learning in simulation-based education, and the triangulation of feedback could serve as a powerful aid to maximize the learning experience.

Indexed as

Haptic TechnologyVirtual RealityClinical CompetenceComputer SimulationDentistryEducation, DentalHumansUser-Computer InterfaceCurriculumDental educationDental studentsHapticPsychomotor skillVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID38087290
PMCPMC10717008

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.