An initial evaluation of the Iowa Dental Surgical Simulator

J Dent Educ. 2000 Dec;64(12):847-53.

Abstract

The University of Iowa colleges of dentistry and engineering are collaborating to build an effective but low-cost surgical simulator that uses force feedback to teach and assess the tactile skills of dentistry. A prototype simulator was built, and a formative evaluation examined the realism of the haptics and identified directions for future work. Using a cross-over design, twelve experienced practitioners probed two virtual teeth using two instruments attached to the force feedback device. The session was videotaped, the forces recorded, and a standardized questionnaire completed. Two analyses were conducted: an ANOVA examined practitioners' questionnaire responses, and a t-test analyzed the probing forces. Significant tooth order by instrument order interaction and instrument effects were found. Practitioners were generally satisfied. They preferred a standard joystick to an explorer, felt that two-dimensional graphics were sufficient, and emphasized that the existing vibration be eliminated. Random placement of caries should help teach generalized skills.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction*
  • Dental Caries / diagnosis
  • Dentistry, Operative / education*
  • Education, Dental / methods*
  • Feedback
  • Humans
  • Software Design
  • User-Computer Interface
  • Vibration