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The challenges facing the Dental School with the proposed shorter dentistry degree could be partially addressed by the use of virtual reality based technology (VRBT), according to a Faculty academic.

Associate Professor Erica Yates, of the School of Dentistry, said a dental simulator computer program, known as DentSim, had been shown to cut clinical training time by 40 per cent.

Dentistry, as with other professional courses, will become a graduate degree within the next few years and will be reduced from a five-year to a four-year course.

DentSim is an electronic dental training program that enables students to practise drilling and shaping preparations on plastic teeth in the mouths of manikins and then gives them an objective assessment of their skills.

Associate Professor Yates said every dentist needed to become competent with wielding the high-speed hand-piece as it was fundamental to good dental practice.

“Dental students learn this essential psychomotor skill in pre-clinical training sessions and VRBT has proven to be an effective training method,” she said.

“There are multiple aspects to the use of DentSim. There is less time in training for the students and they are happier on the system because they get objective and on-demand feedback. And in the long run it is actually better for the patient because the students come into the clinic with a higher skill level.”

Associate Professor Yates said although dentistry students were academically in the top ranking, some did not shine at the motor skills section which involved drilling.

“The research has shown that having a totally different style of teaching may actually help them,” she said. “If we can discover those who are struggling earlier, then they can have more intense training and a better chance of getting through.”

Professor Judith Buchanan visited in September from the Dental School at the University of Minnesota, where she set up the DentSim program, to give UWA Dental School staff an introduction to the equipment. Faculty Dean Winthrop

Professor Ian Puddey was one of those who tried his hand at the drill.

Professor Buchanan was funded by a UWA AJ Herman Fellowship, which provides funding to bring distinguished scholars from outside WA to UWA to undertake research or teaching.

DentSim will be available for the next few months for dentistry students and staff to experience the innovative training method.

“Already the wider dental profession has indicated their support for the adoption of VRBT in using it for continuing education for their clinical staff,” Associate Professor Yates said.

She said she would love the School to be able to acquire 20 of the machines but that 10 would be a good start, if funding could be found.