Students’ Perception of Remote Extended Reality Simulation Systems Using Patient-specific Three-Dimensional-printed Models in Endodontic Education: A Pilot Study

Objective: Extended reality (XR) technology using head-mounted devices enables the operator to visualise anatomical structures. We aimed to investigate students’ perception of the application of XR simulation to the transfer of endodontic educational information between a lecturer in Japan and students in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: In this study, the students engaged with an XR simulation system and viewed teeth in virtual reality (VR). Dental anatomy pictures were shown in VR space, which participants could manipulate. The participants then viewed a patient-specific three-dimensional-printed model and three-dimensional-root canal access guide in the second VR area. Before the sessions, the students completed a questionnaire on demographic data and VR experience. After the sessions, they completed a questionnaire on the XR simulation system. The questionnaire included questions on dental anatomy, root canal access, usability, emotional impression, and data transfer.
Results: Eleven fifth-year dental students, comprising six males and five females, were enrolled; three of them had previous VR experience, whereas eight did not. The highest levels of satisfaction were noted in the tooth anatomy (4.6±0.4) and emotional impression (4.5±0.5) domains, whereas the lowest level was noted in the data transmission domain (3.5±0.9). Female participants and participants with no previous VR experience reported higher levels of satisfaction than male participants and those with previous VR experience in all questionnaire domains.
Conclusions: XR can be successfully used in dental education and integrated into online lectures. Restrictions on education caused by health crises can be averted by using XR. Further, fifth-generation networks can offer better data transmission than wireless fidelity. (EEJ-2024-02-033)