Training of Tooth Scaling by Simulator -- Development of Simulator and Investigation of its Effectiveness --

Dental calculus, hardened plaque on the teeth, is a cause of periodontitis, or gum diseases in the mouth. For dentists and dental hygienists, it is an important task to remove the calculi from patients. The task is called "tooth scaling" and the calculi just beside the gum and between the tooth and gum are usually removed by using a hand scaler. Since the scaling by a hand scaler requires skill, apprentice dentists and dental hygienists must be trained in order to get the skill. Unfortunately in the training environment, however, there are several problems such as difficulty in collecting teeth on which various types of calculi are stuck, lack of cooperative patients, and so on. Authors have newly developed a simulator for the training by using a PHANToM and a video-see-through HMD. The training effectiveness has been evaluated by artificial calculus removal on model teeth, and subjectively evaluated by veterans. The experimental result shows the developed simulator is more effective than the conventional paint removing method.