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Technology, Knowledge and Learning

, Volume 22, Issue 2, pp 199–207 | Cite as

Virtual Reality-Based Technologies in Dental Medicine: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Among Students and Practitioners

  • Maja Sabalic
  • Jason D. Schoener
Original research
First Online:

Abstract

Virtual reality-based technologies have been used in dentistry for almost two decades. Dental simulators, planning software and CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) systems have significantly developed over the years and changed both dental education and clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of VRBT among dental students and educators in one European dental school using a paper-based questionnaire and the KAP among students and dental practitioners from 35 countries using an online survey. Dental students, educators and practitioners have overall positive attitudes towards VRBT but very few have used VRBT in education and practice. The majority of respondents plan to use VRBT in their future clinical practice and believe that those technologies will be widely adopted by dental practices within 22 years. Learning about VRBT and using them as part of undergraduate and continued education programmes could affect dental practitioners’ willingness to implement new technologies and enhance critical assessment of new trends in dentistry.

Keywords

Virtual reality-based technology Dental simulators Digital impressions Haptic technology 3D googles Treatment planning software 

Abbreviations

VRBT

Virtual reality-based technology

KAP

Knowledge, attitude, practice

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Notes

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Josipa Kern for guidance in designing the questionnaire and Patricia Reynolds for comments on the manuscript.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.King’s College London Dental InstituteLondonUK
  2. 2.RAF Alconbury, United States Air ForceHuntingdonUK

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