NYC Gazette

NYU College of Dentistry is implementing virtual reality (VR) technology to train students in administering local anesthesia. This initiative aims to enhance student confidence and competence before they perform procedures on real patients.

"As dentists, we have to get these skills right—you cannot practice dentistry without anesthetics. That’s why we’re so focused on students being both competent and confident," said Marci Levine, a clinical associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery who leads the VR training development at NYU College of Dentistry.

The use of VR is likened to flight simulators used by pilots. "Pilots don’t fly a plane until they’ve completed a certain number of simulations," stated Robert Glickman, professor and chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at NYU Dentistry. "Why should dentistry be different?"

Traditionally, dental students practice administering anesthesia by injecting each other under faculty supervision—a method that can induce anxiety among novices. Levine explained that while this approach was common nationwide, it posed challenges due to nervousness among students handling sharp instruments.

Inspired by colleagues creating interactive learning experiences at NYU's Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Grossman School of Medicine, Levine redesigned her oral surgery course with multimedia elements. Despite the improvements, students sought more hands-on engagement.

Cristian Opazo, director of educational technology at NYU Dentistry, evaluated existing VR technologies but opted for a custom-built program for their needs. The simulated environment mimics a dental office where students interact with virtual patients using VR headsets and hand controllers.

"It helps to not only reaffirm, refine, and refresh but also mentally gives students a boost," noted Levine about the system's impact on learners like Angela Jang and Ramtin Dastgir. Students use VR headsets both in labs and at home for continuous practice before real-life applications.

Levine's team continues refining the system by incorporating feedback from users such as developing tactile controllers for realistic syringe simulation in collaboration with Mohamad Eid from NYU Abu Dhabi.

Interest from other dental schools suggests potential broader adoption across health professions requiring practical training like nursing or veterinary fields. "I would love to see VR become part of mainstream health care education," Levine expressed optimism regarding future applications beyond dentistry.

This project receives support from various departments within New York University including its Office of Provost along with external partners like Septodont USA.