(TC36) Revolutionizing Endodontics: Integrating Augmented and Virtual Reality into Clinical and Educational Practices

Abstract: Objectives or Rationale: The deployment of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in endodontics serves multiple purposes: enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, offering an advanced educational platform for students and residents, and addressing patient anxiety and education. Concise

Description: AR allows practitioners to overlay real-time digital enhancements onto a patient's actual tooth, enabling accurate identification of the internal anatomy and the locations of the canals, thus enhancing treatment precision. AR technology, when combined with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), aids in pre-procedural planning and increases the precision of treatments. VR, on the other hand, immerses users in a simulated dental environment. Notably, for students and residents, VR offers an interactive educational environment where dental students and residents can thoroughly study the anatomy of teeth and simulate endodontic procedures, honing their skills in a controlled, consequence-free setting. Patients benefit from VR's capacity to explain procedures, leading to improved comprehension, and through the use of therapeutic visuals designed to address dental anxiety, thus ensuring a more tranquil clinical experience for patients.

Conclusions: The fusion of AR/VR in endodontics stands as a multifaceted tool, supporting enhanced diagnostic and treatment protocols, pioneering educational methods for dentists, and improving patient well-being and understanding. As technology progresses, the role of AR/VR in endodontics is becoming indispensable. These advancements are being actively integrated into the curriculum at the CWRU Endodontics program.