Arduino-based pedagogical aid for enhanced dexterity skill development in periodontal treatment training

The lateral pressure exerted on the tooth root during subgingival instrumentation is critical to the periodontal therapy success. Students often struggle to understand and apply the appropriate pressure during scaling procedures. To address this, a physical prototype was developed to quantify, in kilograms-force (kgf), the pressure exerted on the tooth structure during scaling and root planning. The prototype integrates a jaw from a periodontal manikin with a load cell and an Arduino prototyping platform. Its functionality, accuracy and precision in measuring and recording applied forces were thoroughly tested, yielding positive results. Therefore, the final product represents a reliable, precise and cost-effective tool for the preclinical training of dental students. Although it cannot fully replicate the complexities of clinical scenarios, by providing real-time feedback on pressures applied during simulated calculus removal, the prototype aids students in understanding the optimal force required for periodontal scaling.