Virtual Reality Training for Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in Dental Students (VR-IANB)

June 16, 2026 updated by: Kubilay Isik, Konya Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Anesthesia Training Using a Virtual Reality Simulator in Dental Students: A Randomized Controlled Study

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality simulator-based training in teaching the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) technique to third-year dental students. Participants were randomly assigned to either a virtual reality simulator training group or a conventional training group. The outcomes evaluated include theoretical knowledge, anatomical understanding, procedural performance, self-confidence, and anxiety levels associated with IANB administration. The study aims to determine whether virtual reality simulation provides advantages over conventional educational methods in local anesthesia training.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is one of the most frequently performed local anesthesia techniques in dentistry and requires adequate theoretical knowledge, anatomical understanding, and psychomotor skills. Traditional educational methods may not provide sufficient opportunities for repeated practice without patient involvement.

Virtual reality (VR) simulators with haptic feedback have emerged as innovative educational tools that allow students to perform procedures in a safe and controlled environment. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness in IANB training remains limited.

This randomized controlled study evaluates the effectiveness of a VR simulator (SIMtoCARE) in teaching the IANB technique to third-year dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Necmettin Erbakan University. Participants were randomly assigned to either a VR-based training group or a conventional training group.

A total of three questionnaires were administered to the students. Based on the results of these questionnaires, several parameters, including theoretical knowledge, anatomical awareness, self-confidence, and anxiety levels, were evaluated.

The findings of this study may contribute to the development of evidence-based educational strategies and support the integration of VR simulation into the dental education curriculum.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

132

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Konya, Turkey (Türkiye), 42090
        • Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being a third-year student at our Faculty of Dentistry Willingness to participate in the study voluntarily

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having previously received local anesthesia training using a virtual reality simulator Unwillingness to participate in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Training Group
Participants completed the first questionnaire after the theoretical training. They then received virtual reality simulator-based training using the SIMtoCARE system. Following this training, they completed the second questionnaire. After the virtual reality training, participants also received conventional training and completed the third questionnaire.
Other: SIMtoCARE Virtual Reality Simulator
A haptic virtual reality simulator used for inferior alveolar nerve block training.
Other: Conventional Training
Traditional theoretical and practical instruction for inferior alveolar nerve block administration.
Active Comparator: Conventional Training Group
Participants completed the first questionnaire after the theoretical training. They then received conventional training and completed the third questionnaire at the end of the training.
Other: Conventional Training
Traditional theoretical and practical instruction for inferior alveolar nerve block administration.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in inferior alveolar nerve block education questionnaire score
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of training
Difference in questionnaire scores assessing theoretical knowledge, anatomical understanding, self-confidence, and anxiety related to inferior alveolar nerve block administration between baseline and post-training assessments. The effect of virtual reality simulator-based training will be evaluated through changes in these scores.
Baseline and immediately after completion of training

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Konya Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 16, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 16, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NEU-OMFS-VR-IANB-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers. The questionnaire data were collected anonymously and will be used only by the study investigators for research purposes.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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