Meet the Haptodont Dental Simulator
Introduction to the Haptodont
A Haptic-Based Simulator for Periodontal Training
The Haptics-based virtual reality periodontal training simulation project focuses upon the research, development, and evaluation of a simulator for training of periodontal procedures for dental students/clinicians. Using virtual reality and Haptics technologies, the periodontal simulator allows trainees to learn performing diagnosis and/or treatment procedures of periodontal diseases by visualizing a 3D virtual human mouth and feeling physical tactile sensations as they touch the surface of teeth, gingiva, bone and calculi via virtual dental instruments. In a periodontal procedure, the dentist depends primarily on tactile sensations to perform diagnostic and surgical tasks, therefore, the use of Haptics in unquestionably crucial for a realistic periodontal simulation.
1. Instructor, Student Modes
Select between dedicated instructor and student modes to create periodontal layouts, or practice periodontal simulations
2. Secure Log-Ins
Password-protected log-ins ensure that instructor layouts, as well as student scores and statistics, are protected.
3. Periodontal Layout Creator
Our comprehensive layout creator allows instructors to finely adjust periodontal settings. Enable and disable teeth, adjust pocket depths, modify calculus (position, thickness, hardness), set suppuration and bleeding - all through a few simple clicks. Our algorithms can automatically generate layouts.
4. Generate!
High quality, accurate 3D denture models that reflect instructor-set layouts are rapidly generated. The model is automatically loaded into the virtual dental patient and dental room.
5. Periodontal Probing
Next, students are immersed within our visually and haptically-realistic environment. Through a probe, students can interact with the periodontal model, checking teeth and gums for pocket depths, gingivitis, calculus, suppuration, or bleeding.
6. Voice Recognition
Through an included microphone, our smart voice recognition system automatically picks up values read by the student and logs answers into a student answer sheet and chart. This eliminates the need for an additional assistant or nurse, and decreases room for human error.
7. Instant Evaluation
Our system automatically matches student answers against instructor layout values. The evaluation provides students with scores and feedback. Colors indicate student accuracy per pocket. The instructor is notified of a new student score, and class statistics are calculated - eliminating the need for instructors to manually verify student answers.
8. Environment
Our dentist-curated environment includes the natural tools, equipment, and charts that a dentist interacts with on a daily basis. Pressing buttons can tilt chairs, rotate patients, change lighting, and open and close mouths. Our use of deformable bodies allow patient tongues and cheeks to move freely when pushed, pulled, or stretched.
Project Roadmap
Phase 1: Environment Development
The project in phase 1 includes the design and development of Haptics/visual 3D models for various objects in the simulator. These objects include: a virtual mouth, tongue, tooth, gingiva, bone, calculi, and dental instruments. The dental instruments include a periodontal probe, a periodontal scaler, and a periodontal explorer. We plan to scan real physical instruments using 3D scanner to get the most realistic 3D model, and scan the haptic properties for high fidelity haptic rendering. These objects will be put together to render an entire simulation environment. Graphic rendering as well as haptic rendering will also be developed at this phase.
Phase 2: Use Cases
In phase 2, we plan to design a motion tracking system that tracks the dominating hand movements and reproduce those movements visually in the virtual environment using a hand avatar. This would provide the learner with a higher level of immersion as he/she performs a task. We would like to conduct a usability study to verify this argument. Then several use cases for diagnosis and surgical procedures will be introduced. We will consider three dominant procedures that dental student learn: pocket probing examination, calculus detection, and calculus removal. In this phase, we will investigate the possibility of attaching real dental instruments to the haptic interface end effector. For each of these procedures, different configurations for the depth and accumulation of calculus will be considered.
Phase 3: Playback and Quality of Performance
Phase 3 of the project involves the design and development of a haptic recording and playback algorithms. The haptic recording algorithm is intended to record haptic data and/or visual data while an expert in the field performs specific task. The haptic data that will be captured include 3D position, 3D forces, velocity, acceleration and timestamp. The haptic playback algorithm reconstructs the already recorded task both visually and haptically. This will provide the dental students the capability to practice at their own convenience and as many time as possible, but not only learning through their audio/visual interaction, but also through their haptic modality.
Phase 3 also includes the development of a quality of performance model for measuring how well a student performs a particular task. This could be a very useful tool for both learners and instructors. For the learners, this tool will provide them with a self-assessment, continuous feedback about their performance. As for instructors, this tool provides them a quantitative means to analyze and measure the learner’s performance offline, and thus eliminating the one-on-one learning, which is currently needed with traditional learning tools.
Phase 4: Performance Evaluation
Performance evaluation will be conducted via various means at the end of each phase of the project, to measure the success of each phase towards project completion. By the end of phase 3, we plan to conduct a comprehensive usability testing with dental students/clinicians to measure, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the effectiveness of the proposed system as an educational tool. Findings at various stages of the project will be documented and published at relevant journals and/or conferences.