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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1810611
Perspective

Shaping the Future of Dentistry: How Digital VR-Haptic Thinkers Are Revolutionizing Education by Thinking Big for Better Future in Oral Care

Reinhard Chun Wang Chau 
1   Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
,
Manchorova Neshka
2   Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
,
Mihaela Pantea
3   Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Occlusology, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
,
Sarah Rampf
4   Department of Conservative Dentistry, Clinic for Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
,
Mikko Liukkonen
5   Division of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
,
David R. Rice
6   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
,
David Morton
7   Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Octave Nadile Bandiaky 
8   Division of Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Nantes, Nantes, France
,
Masako Nagasawa
9   Division of Bio-Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry and Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
,
Kinga Bágyi
10   Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
,
Barry F. Quinn 
11   Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
Esther Carramolino-Cuéllar
12   Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
,
Sónnica Galán-Gil
12   Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
,
Nicla Flacco 
12   Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
,
Damiano Pasqualini 
13   Department of Surgical Sciences, Dental School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
,
Muhammad A. Shazib
14   Department of Dental Medicine, Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, United States
,
Simona-Georgiana Schick
4   Department of Conservative Dentistry, Clinic for Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
,
Bekhzod Yarmukhamedov
15   Tashkent State Dental Institute, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
,
Kristin Ackerman
14   Department of Dental Medicine, Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, United States
,
Santiago Arias-Herrera
12   Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
,
Ulla-E Palotie
6   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
,
Ahmed Adam Kada
16   Dental Medicine Faculty, Mohammed V. University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
,
Nawal Bouyahyaoui
16   Dental Medicine Faculty, Mohammed V. University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
,
Edgar Quenta-Silva 
17   Stomatology Simulation Center, Facultad de Estomatología, Universidad Peruana Cayetano, Heredia, Lima, Peru
,
Gitana Rederiene 
18   European Dental Hygienists Federation, Utrecht, Netherlands
,
Nisrine El Arrouf
16   Dental Medicine Faculty, Mohammed V. University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
,
María P. Rodríguez-Hopp
19   Facultad de Salud y Odontología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
,
Anna L. Suominen
20   Oral Health Teaching Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
,
Hannelie Edgar
21   Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA), Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
,
Nicola Shanks
21   Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA), Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
,
Amanda Jackson
21   Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA), Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
,
Brid Hendron
21   Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA), Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
,
Sila Nur Usta
22   Department of Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics, Gulhane Faculty of Dentistry, University of Health Sciences Ankara, Ankara, Türkiye
,
Peter Lingström
23   Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
,
Ulf Örtengren
23   Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
,
Margrit Maggio
14   Department of Dental Medicine, Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, United States
,
Niku Sondagar
24   Note Dr Ltd, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom
,
Maxstein M. Abuzaid 
1   Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
,
Małgorzata Ponto-Wolska
25   Department of Propaedeutics and Dental Prophylaxis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
,
Walter Yu Hang Lam
1   Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
,
Piotr A. Regulski 
25   Department of Propaedeutics and Dental Prophylaxis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
,
Outi Huhtela
26   Institute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
,
Łukasz Zadrożny
25   Department of Propaedeutics and Dental Prophylaxis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
,
Mengwei Pang
27   Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
,
Suzie Bergman
28   Department of Neurosurgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
,
Szabolcs Felszeghy
26   Institute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
,
Sompop Bencharit
14   Department of Dental Medicine, Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, United States
,
Maria F. Sittoni-Pino
12   Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Abstract

Integrating digital, virtual reality (VR), and haptic technologies into dental education transforms training by fostering immersive, student-centered environments. These tools bridge theoretical knowledge and clinical practice, enhancing psychomotor skills, reducing anxiety, and enabling standardized assessments in risk-free settings. The Digital, VR, and Haptic Thinkers Network drives global collaboration and innovation. Drawing on insights from a 2025 conference at Queen Mary University of London, this commentary explores advancements, challenges, and future directions for VR-haptic integration in dental curricula. Results from global implementations, including improved manual dexterity and procedural precision, as well as enhanced pulpotomy performance, demonstrate a significant educational benefit. In clinical dentistry, VR-haptic simulators enhance patient outcomes by facilitating precise skill development for procedures in restorative dentistry and endodontics, thereby reducing errors in real-world practice. Combining these technologies with traditional methods is proposed to prepare competent, confident dental professionals while addressing educational disparities. Rigorous validation, strategic curriculum integration, and interdisciplinary collaboration are recommended to maximize impact.

Keywords

dental education - virtual reality - haptic technologies - digital - artificial intelligence - psychomotor skills - curriculum integration

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Publication History

Article published online:
18 August 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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