Britse studenten oefenen boren met nieuw 3D-programma

De techologie moet voor studenten de stap overbruggen tussen het de theorie en het moment van behandelen van echte patiënten.
De virtuele mond heeft een vibrerende technologie die vergelijkbaar is met simulatoren voor pilotentrainingen en vibrerende hand controllers van computer games.

Bij het boren van de tanden geeft de virtuele mond feedback aan de studenten waardoor zij het verschil voelen tussen boren in gezond glazuur en op plaatsen met tandbederf. De weerstand leert studenten hoeveel druk zij kunnen toepassen bij het boren.

De universiteit van Leeds heeft voldoende ‘virtuele monden’ aangeschaft om elke student regelmatig te laten oefenen.






He said: ‘Up until now, students have practiced using a phantom head. You need these to help you get to grips with what it’s like to have a real patient in front of you. But it’s still a big step to then drill into someone’s teeth for the first time. Dentistry is all about skill, dexterity and most importantly, practice. So having a virtual mouth to test and perfect your skills on, time and time again, means our students are going to be very well practiced before they treat a patient.’

The virtual environment also allows dental students to play back what they’ve done, examine their technique, analyse how successful they were and identify areas for improvement.

It also prepares students for a wider range of dental procedures, building up more complex cases than a phantom head can offer, such as tackling decay on a single tooth through to opening teeth for root canal treatment.

He added: ‘The students who have trialled the virtual mouths have already appreciated the very realistic experience it offers, even down to working with a tongue that reacts to your touch. This technology presents a huge step forward in the way dentistry students will master their training.’