Multilayered drilling plate improves preclinical training

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 20 August 2025

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KUOPIO, Finland: A pilot study has evaluated the perceived realism and educational value of a novel multilayered drilling plate designed to replicate the tactile and structural properties of dental tissue. The plate was assessed by researchers who are part of the global VR-Haptic Thinkers consortium, a multidisciplinary group devoted to transforming dental education through digital technologies. They reported that the drilling plate holds potential for improving preclinical training, but has some limitations regarding its tactile properties.

Co-author Dr Szabolcs Felszeghy, a clinical lecturer at the Institute of Dentistry of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, explained that, although preclinical training tools are widely used in dental schools around the world, there remains a notable lack of systematic, comparative research evaluating their realism, cost-effectiveness, durability and educational value. Existing preclinical training tools, including virtual reality haptic simulators, often fail to reproduce the tactile distinctions between enamel, dentine and pulp, limiting students’ ability to develop essential fine motor skills.

Developed to enhance preclinical dental training, the multilayered drilling plate incorporates three distinct layers to better mimic the dental tissue. “The aim is to provide students with a model that feels closer to clinical reality,” Dr Felszeghysaid in a press release. “Simulation technologies are increasingly prevalent in dental education; however, conventional dental models are still needed and worth developing,” he added.

The plate was evaluated by 70 dental educators from 14 institutions across four continents regarding drilling quality of the tissue layers, hardness differences between the tissue layers, smoothness of prepared surfaces and visibility of drilling patterns. They found that the plate is a promising tool for preclinical skill development, particularly for students new to handpiece use, offering ergonomic visibility, surface smoothness and intuitive use. However, further research is needed to enhance the tactile realism of the dentine layer and to determine the added value of the drilling plate compared with conventional training tools.

The findings will be presented on Thursday, 21 August, at the 50^th annual meeting of the Association for Dental Education in Europe, which will be held in Dublin in Ireland. During the event, the VR-Haptic Thinkers consortium will host a session highlighting innovations at the intersection of virtual reality, haptics and preclinical training.

The study, titled “Optimizing preclinical skill assessment for handpiece-naïve students: A strategic approach”, was published online on 11 August 2025 in Dentistry Journal.

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Dental research Dental students Dental tissue Dental training

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