RATIONALIZATION AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF DENTAL CLINICAL EDUCATION USING SIMULATION SYSTEMS

近年来，口腔科学的发展日新月异，临床技术日趋先进和复杂。然而，在时间有限的情况下，对学生进行有效的临床技术教学是非常困难的。正因为如此，有必要开发一个基于模拟临床程序的合理培训系统。在本研究中，我们试图开发用于牙科实践的设备、模型和辅助设备，并将计算机引入牙科教育中进行评估和模拟。采用问卷调查法对日本各牙科学校进行了保守牙科基本幻影诊疗的调查。利用三维计算机图形学技术制作视觉和动态牙周教育辅助工具，并对其效果进行评价。尝试建立一个虚拟空腔制备系统。制作并完善了用于口腔模拟实践的人工颌、人工牙模型。尝试使用计算机图形对已制备的腔体进行自动评估。为引进牙科模拟系统，分析了操作员的位置。讨论了口腔模拟系统存在的问题。此外，还设计了牙科模拟系统，以测量所教授的技能，如在准备腔和根管准备时的切割压力，并为学员提供必要的反馈。由于牙科模拟系统是最近才开发出来的，它涉及到所有的牙科手术，在为期两年的研究中发现了新的问题。人们发现，不断研究开发更有效的设备和教学方法是非常必要的。

Recently, the progress of dental science is so remarkable and clinical technics have become increasingly advanced and complicated. However, effective instruction of these clinical technics among students in a time-constrained schedule is very difficult to achieve. Because of this, there is a need to develop a rational training system based on simulated clinical procedures.In this study, we attempted to develop devices, models and aids for dental practice, and to introduce computers into dental education for assessment and simulation.1. A questionnaire survey about the basic phantom practice of conservative dentistry was performed to all dental schools in Japan.2. Visual and kinetic aids for periodontal education were created using three dimensional computer graphics, and their effectiveness were evaluated.3. A virtual cavity preparation system was attempted to be built.4. Artificial jaws and teeth models for dental simulation practice were produced and refined.5. Automatic assessments of prepared cavities were tried using computer graphics.6. Operator's position was analyzed for introduction of dental simulation systems.7. Problems of dental simulation systems were discussed.8. Dental simulation systems to gauge the taught skills such as cutting pressure during cavity preparation and instrumentation of root canal preparationwere also designed to provide the necessary feedback to the trainees.Since the dental simulation system was developed only recently, and it relates to all dental procedures, new problems were noted during the conduct of this two-year study. It has been found that continuous study to develop more efficient devices and teaching methods is exceedingly necessary.