Evidence mapPaperPMID 40619364Full record

SynthesisBMC medical education2025

Influence of virtual reality simulation (excluding augmented reality) on endodontic learning experiences of undergraduate dental students: a systematic review.

Muhammad Qasim Javed, Bilal Arjumand, Shaul Hameed Klarkodi, Sundus Atique, Ayman M Abulhamael, Muhammad Sohail Zafar

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Muhammad Qasim JavedDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraidah, 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia. m.anayat@qu.edu.sa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7586-4319
Bilal ArjumandDepartment of Conservative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraidah, 52571, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3090-3668
Shaul Hameed KlarkodiDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraidah, 52571, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1735-8351
Sundus AtiqueCollege of Dental Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.
Ayman M AbulhamaelDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80209, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Sohail ZafarDepartment of Clinical Science, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates. muhammad.zafar@ajman.ac.ae.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5157-7067

Funding

Ajman University Only for Article Processing Charges
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVirtual Reality (VR) technology has demonstrated a promising prospect for enhancing endodontic learning in undergraduate dental students by boosting their procedural skills, accuracy, and confidence.

aimTo systematically evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) simulation in endodontic education among undergraduate dental students, with a specific focus on four key outcomes: procedural accuracy, enhancement of student confidence, reduction in procedural errors, and overall learner satisfaction.

methodsAn exhaustive literature search was carried out in December 2024 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies, and cross-sectional studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included in the review. Risk of bias was appraised as follows: Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 (RoB2) tool for RCTs; Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies; National Institute of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for before-and-after studies; and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool for non-randomized studies without a comparator group.

resultsFifteen studies were included in the final analysis. VR-based training showed statistically significant differences between the pre and post-test scores regarding procedural accuracy and efficiency for tasks at the end of endodontics. These results showed that VR training leads to greater confidence and skill levels in students than traditional approaches, improved retention of knowledge, and a reduction in errors. Advantages notwithstanding, limitations around cost and accessibility were observed.

conclusionVR simulation is an effective, valuable tool in the endodontic education toolbox. Further studies should assess cost-effectiveness and long-term clinical performance effects.

Indexed as

Education, DentalEndodonticsStudents, DentalVirtual RealityClinical CompetenceHumansAugmented realityDental educationEndodonticsSimulationVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID40619364
PMCPMC12232807

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.