AIM To introduce virtual reality (VR) into the endodontic curriculum for teaching root canal anatomy and to evaluate the effectiveness of this new method on third-year undergraduate students. METHODOLOGY Extracted human teeth were digitized using a CBCT scan and converted into STL files. The corresponding files were either 3D printed or imported into a VR software program. Subsequently, forty-two third-year undergraduate dental students in preclinical training were asked to respond to a questionnaire analysing their ability to detect all the anatomic features of the replica teeth and their comprehension of the underlying root canal anatomy. The investigation was based on three different methods: two-dimensional radiography, CBCT scanning and VR simulation. Data were analysed using McNemar's and binomial test, and the level of significance was set to 0.05 (P = 0.05). RESULTS Students reported that CBCT and VR allowed them to detect all anatomic features more than radiography (P < 0.001 - P = 0.049). Because it allowed improved comprehension of root canal anatomy, the VR simulation was considered better than CBCT scanning and radiography. Most of the students adapted well to the VR simulation. CONCLUSIONS Dental students greatly appreciated the integration of VR simulation into the endodontic curriculum. From a didactic point of view, VR has considerable advantages over three-dimensional reconstructions and two-dimensional radiographs when teaching root canal anatomy.

中文翻译：

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虚拟现实：为牙科学专科生教授根管解剖学的有效工具-初步研究。

目的将虚拟现实（VR）引入牙髓学课程中，以教授根管解剖学，并评估这种新方法对三年级本科生的有效性。方法学提取的人类牙齿使用CBCT扫描进行数字化处理，并转换为STL文件。相应的文件可以3D打印或导入到VR软件程序中。随后，要求对接受临床前培训的42名三年级本科牙科学生进行问卷调查，以分析他们检测仿牙的所有解剖特征的能力以及对基础牙根解剖结构的理解。调查基于三种不同的方法：二维射线照相，CBCT扫描和VR模拟。使用McNemar和二项式检验分析数据，显着性水平设为0.05（P = 0.05）。结果学生报告说，CBCT和VR使他们能够比放射线照相更能检测所有解剖特征（P <0.001-P = 0.049）。由于可以改善对根管解剖结构的理解，因此，VR模拟被认为比CBCT扫描和X线摄影更好。大多数学生都很好地适应了VR模拟。结论牙科学生非常欣赏将VR模拟技术集成到牙髓课程中的经验。从教学的角度来看，在教授根管解剖学时，VR优于三维重建和二维X射线照片。由于可以改善对根管解剖结构的理解，因此，VR模拟被认为比CBCT扫描和X射线照相更好。大多数学生都很好地适应了VR模拟。结论牙科学生非常欣赏将VR模拟技术集成到牙髓课程中的经验。从教学的角度来看，在教授根管解剖学时，VR优于三维重建和二维X射线照片。因为它可以改善对根管解剖结构的理解，所以VR模拟被认为比CBCT扫描和X射线摄影更好。大多数学生都很好地适应了VR模拟。结论牙科学生非常欣赏将VR模拟技术集成到牙髓课程中的经验。从教学的角度来看，在教授根管解剖学时，VR优于三维重建和二维X射线照片。