Faculty and students at Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry have teamed up with BreakAway, a firm that builds game-like environments for training simulations, to create a 3D recreation of the dentist’s experience. From meeting patients to actually practicing on virtual teeth, the tool has been a popular way for students to hone their skills.
From Medical College of Georgia:
The implant simulation game uses multiple patients and clinical scenarios that can be randomly selected, letting students interact with virtual patients by asking about their medical history, examining them and arriving at a diagnosis. Like humans, the virtual patients have different personalities, and students must tailor treatment based on the mental, physical and emotional needs of the individual.
If the virtual patient is a candidate for implant therapy, the simulation then ventures into a virtual clinical treatment area, where students decide the type, location and orientation of the implants, type and location of anesthesia and tools for surgery.
The game uses Pulse!! Virtual Learning Lab, developed by BreakAway in partnership with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi through funding from the Office of Naval Research.
As effective as the learning tool is, it is intended to supplement – not replace – actual clinical training.
Student reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and added great value to the final product, says Dr. Cibirka, noting he also worked with a team of faculty subject matter experts to ensure educational accuracy.
Press statement by Medical College of Georgia: Simulation helps students learn dental implant procedures
Link: BreakAway homepage…