Transforming Dental Education: Global Insights On Haptic Vr Challenges

To assess dental educators' perceptions and needs regarding VR-haptics in dental education and gather suggestions for system improvements. The VR-Haptic Thinkers Consortium conducted a global cross-sectional study using a 28-item online questionnaire distributed to 1,023 participants by August 1, 2024. The survey included demographic questions, Likert-scale items, and open-ended questions. By September 15, 2024, 378 responses were collected from 156 institutions. VR-haptic trainers were more prevalent in preclinical (267) than clinical training (131), with most respondents favoring their use alongside phantom head training in the preclinical stage. Enhancement suggestions included more diverse training scenarios, improved software and hardware, and AI-based personalized training. Challenges included the need for further development, economic concerns, and low acceptance among educators and students. VR-haptics provides valuable real-time feedback in dental education, complementing traditional methods. Future developments in personalized training and cost-effective devices could further integrate VR-haptics into dental curricula, potentially enhancing educational outcomes and improving future oral health care practices