The effectiveness of augmented reality in dental education: a systematic review

Augmented Reality (AR) is an innovative technology that overlays virtual objects onto the real world, allowing both to coexist within the same space. In dental education, AR has the potential to improve learning outcomes by providing immersive and interactive experiences. This review aims to identify the extent of AR utilization in dental education and explore its effects based on existing studies. A systematic review was conducted using PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) search strategy. Relevant studies published from 2016 until October 2024 were identified from the Web of Science (WoS), Ovid, Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were limited to English-language articles focused on AR in dental education. A total of 1,754 articles were found, and 13 articles were eligible for review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. In dental education, AR studies were predominant in restorative dentistry (n=4 studies), as well as, local anaesthesia training (n=4 studies), followed by dental anatomy subject (n=3 studies, dental charting practice (n=1 study) and orthodontic technique dental education (n=1 study). AR has shown the greatest impact on skill proficiency enhancement in restorative dentistry, followed by local anaesthesia and dental anatomy. In conclusion, AR presents a promising tool to revolutionize dental education by providing engaging, cost-effective and efficient learning platform. While it is not a substitute for traditional methods, it can complement them and support skill development. Further research is needed to optimize AR’s integration into dental curricula and evaluate its long-term impact on students’ clinical competence.