DentSim

confidence. performance. preparation.
How accurate is the DentSim?
Here is an example of DentSim system accuracy: IF you fail to remove the caries in the distal pit you would not receive a passing grade. Alternatively, if there is insufficient extension beyond the distal pit, only 5 points are deducted. This difference between these two cavity preparations is almost too small to view without the use of loupes. The DS on-screen graphics matches the physical tooth close to the level detectable by the human eye. As a result, the augmented reality graphical and digital feedback matches the actual plastic tooth.
How long will our investment in DentSim last?
The University Of Tennessee College Of Dental Medicine acquired 40 DS units in 2002, replacing them with 33 new units in 2012. CASE Western School of Dentistry replaced their DS in 2012 after ten years. The 20 DentSim units at Virginia Commonwealth University are approaching ten years old and are in excellent shape.
What is involved in calibrating the DentSim units?
Calibration in the new Dentsim generation is preset already by the manufacture. That allows the pre-clinical team to reduce drastically the time spent on each unit.
What has to be done to check the manufacture calibration ( pre-calibration)

Once the unit is ready to be used, it will take about 3 minutes per unit to confirm that the unit is calibrated and validated by the software.

Do Dimensions of certain DentSim preparations vary from the ideal procedures that are taught in our school?

In a traditional lab students receive feedback on the shape of the prep and, in the practical exams, they are tested on the shape of the prep that they drill. This sends an obvious message to the student – it is the shape of the prep that is important. As a result, students are less conscious of the process and can even learn and transfer process errors from the preclinic to the clinic.

DentSim Lab practice differs in that the target prep geometry is used as a vehicle to teach discrete skills that are both cognitive and psycho-motor. DentSim practice enables the student to acquire the foundational skills of a proper mental image of the tooth, proper handpiece positioning, drilling-to-depth, self-assessment capability and forward reasoning. Evaluation parameters provide skill-specific graphical and digital feedback on wall angle, handpiece position, outline shape and floor depth. Self-analysis of feedback on the individual components of the preparation self-develops the micro-skills necessary to deploy those skills in the clinic. Of course, DentSim also provides feedback on the shape that is drilled.

How does the preclinic prepare the operative dentist for the endless variety of caries and patients that he will encounter?
Creating a large mental database of prep shapes that match to specific problems is one way. DentSim practice enables the dentist to develop lucid cognitive constructs of each psycho-motor skill. Consequently, the student-dentist is equipped to solve problems by deploying a moderate number of fundamental concepts and micro-skills as opposed to searching his memory for relevant shapes.

DentSim training provides more confidence to students entering the clinic.

How does DS practice enable students to form a mental image of the tooth?
For any point on the tooth, DentSim provides both a cross-sectional and occlusal view. This enables the beginning student to form a mental image (or junior mental image) for any section of the tooth. Further cutting actions are therefore relevant to a real-time mental image. Over time the student develops a more comprehensive 2D:3D image of the tooth.
Do I drill on a plastic simulation tooth similar to what students practice on in Dental School?
Yes, Dentsim uses a physical plastic tooth as well as augmented reality graphical feedback on a computer screen.
Do I receive immediate feedback as soon as I drill?
Yes you receive feedback every time you click the evaluation button displaying the measurements you have drilled. You also constantly receive 3D feedback showing your handpiece position drilling in the mouth.
Can I apply what I learn on DentSim?

You learn skills step by step so that your skills improve in an expert method.

What types of skills will I learn?

Skills you can apply throughout your dental career. Hand-skills and Visualization skills including: • Drilling to depth • Assess long axis • Wall angles • Outline shape • Outline centralization • Retention • Handpiece positioning

What will I learn with Dentsim that I wouldn't learn with a traditional phantom simlab?

Mental Image of Tooth Essential for Hand-Skills: Student develops mental image of the tooth with DentSim. A mental image allows the students’ hand skills to have a goal to achieve. DentSim provides continuous 2 dimensional and 3-dimensional cross section feedback. This enables students to constantly visualize their prep vs. the optimal prep and create a mental image.

20-50 Feedbacks per hour after instructor guides student with drill and on-screen:
With DentSim an instructor can show a student what looks correct on screen and then the student can self-check themselves. This makes all the time between an instructor’s advice productive. An instructor cannot provide feedback at the precise moment that a student needs it; DentSim can. Without DentSim a student receives feedback 2 to 4 times an hour leaving the student wondering if they are drilling correct. Studies show students receive 20-50 feedbacks per hour with DentSim.

Focus on the Process rather than cover up mistakes:
With DentSim a student receives feedback during each stage of their prep. This allows them to prep correctly rather than cover up their mistakes at the end of their prep. Studies show that without DentSim 25% of the time a student uses to cover up their mistakes.

Specific repetitive practice of fundamental skills rather than copying shapes leads to higher learning curve of expertise:
• Drilling to depth • Assess long axis • Wall angles • Outline shape • Outline centralization • Retention • Handpiece positioning

Wall angles and parallelism to long axis visual aid: These skills are the most difficult to teach and to learn without a visual aid. A study shows DentSim allows students to learn to determine and prepare preparations in long axis in 12 hours vs 30 hours with a traditional lab. Students also learn forward reasoning.

See for yourself how DentSim can help YOUR school

Many of the top dental schools around the world have already adopted DentSim to help train their students. View full list here.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Penn State Dental Medicine
Gheifswald university

Students are able to pull up their older sessions and review them to see if they make the same mistakes over and over again and how they are improving.

Dr. Laura Darnell

I need to start perpendicular to the occlusal table which is hard to see on the typodont but can be seen really nice on DentSim.

DentSim Student

I would guess that students can learn in two hours what used to take six hours on benchtop. They develop the skill to learn operative dentistry.

Dr. Frank Robertello

It is important to build exactly this visual image in the students minds. The DentSim is very suiting for this purpose, because it visualizes the target cavity design compared to the actual cavity preparation by the student.

Dr. Alexander Welk