DentiXR Dental Training Simulator

DentiXR enables students to train dental procedures in a fully immersive virtual environment. Practice anytime, repeat procedures without limitations, and receive instant feedback.

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Inspiration

Dental education still relies heavily on plastic typodont models and limited clinical exposure. Students often lack repetitive, feedback-driven practice before treating real patients. We were inspired to bridge this gap by combining immersive VR with clinically meaningful haptic feedback — allowing students to feel, see, and analyze their performance in a safe, repeatable environment.

Our goal was simple: Create a scalable, data-driven dental training platform that improves psychomotor skills before students enter the clinic.

What it does

DentiXR is a VR-based dental training simulator designed for universities and training institutions.

It allows students to:

  • Select specific teeth and procedures
  • Practice cavity preparation, drilling, caries removal, composite filling, and MTA placement
  • Train freely in Practice Mode
  • Complete instructor-defined tasks in Assignment Mode
  • Receive instant performance feedback
  • Track accuracy, time, and dexterity metrics
  • View attempt history and progress trends

How we built it

  • Developed in Unity using C#
  • Integrated VR hardware with haptic feedback
  • Integrated MX Ink as the primary precision input device for pen-based dental interaction
  • Built custom tooth models with layered material simulation
  • Designed a real-time analytics engine to track:
    • Precision
    • Overcut areas
    • Undercut zones
    • Time efficiency
    • Tool angulation consistency
  • Implemented cloud-based dashboards for instructors
  • Optimized for scalable university deployment

    • Using MX Ink allows students to hold and manipulate tools in a pen-like form factor, closely mimicking real dental handpieces and improving ergonomic realism.

    Challenges we ran into

  • Simulating realistic material resistance differences between enamel and dentin
  • Balancing high-fidelity feedback with MX Ink
  • Designing fair, objective grading algorithms
  • Ensuring low latency for haptic feedback
  • Making the system intuitive for both tech-savvy and non-technical faculty

    • Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Built a fully functional dental VR simulator with real-time assessment
  • Successfully integrated MX Ink for natural tool handling
  • Achieved clinically meaningful tactile differentiation

    • What we learned

  • Motor skill acquisition improves dramatically with immediate feedback
  • Objective data increases both student motivation and instructor trust
  • Realism is not only visual — tactile and ergonomic fidelity are critical
  • Universities need scalable solutions, not just impressive demos
  • Iteration with real educators is essential

    • What's next for DentiXR Dental Training Simulator

  • AI-powered personalized feedback
  • Expanded procedure library (endodontics, prosthodontics, surgical basics)
  • International university partnerships
  • Research validation studies and peer-reviewed publications

    • Our vision is to make DentiXR the new standard for pre-clinical dental training worldwid

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