AI-powered simulation training is key to solving the procedural skills crisis in dentistry

When the Baltimore Dental College opened in 1837 as the world’s first dental school, students spent three years in training. More than 180 years later, despite enormous advances in treatments, case complexity and technology, it still takes only four years to earn a dental degree.

Yet the demands of modern dentistry are evolving faster than traditional models of training and continuing education can keep pace. Simply put, it is simply too expensive to train dentists in procedural skills, and they graduate from dental school with very little experience and, therefore, confidence.

The lack of effective training is exacerbating the dental skills crisis in the United States, where many dentists feel underprepared both technically and in communicating with patients – essential skills needed to build trust and provide an effective level of care.

Patients expect precision, as they should, and the techniques and resources used in dental education must evolve. This includes the implementation of real-world examples of rehearsal and simulation teaching methods in early childhood education, providing dentists with the opportunity to practice their clinical skills in a safe and risk-free environment. Giving dentists more hands-on training provides a platform for repeated practice, real-time feedback and continuous improvement, helping students gain the confidence and consistency they need to succeed in patient care.

A massive learning curve

Because of this skills gap, most dental school graduates are proficient in only a small percentage of procedures when they enter the workforce – such as fillings, basic gum disease, some crowns, and checkups. However, general dentists must expand their procedural capabilities to improve patient care while increasing the value they bring to their practice and business.

Not only should a dentist be able to confidently perform cases such as ceramic crowns, inlays, onlays and a full range of restorations, but also more advanced procedures such as soft tissue grafts, sinus lifts and orthodontic aligners. Dental practices and groups cannot properly treat their patients and be profitable if they do not have dentists who can properly perform these advanced procedures.

Improving dentists’ skills in more complex work, such as implants and crowns, can increase their production for a practice.

Dentists need both the skills and confidence to provide high-quality care and put patients at ease. If patients do not fully trust their dentist, they may not want to have a procedure.

Building Confidence Through Repetition

Dentists flying to a conference or into a classroom provide only limited value and knowledge, most of which they will not retain long term. We need to put students in an interactive learning environment where they can practice the same tricky maneuvers repeatedly, so they develop the muscle memory needed for the real thing.

Simulated training provides dentists with an environment to accurately replicate realistic clinical scenarios with remarkable accuracy. By using the same tools and ergonomics they would encounter in practice, they can more accurately mimic the tactile feel, resistance and precision required in real-world procedures. Beyond developing technical skills, simulation also gives dentists the opportunity to refine a procedure until they are comfortable enough for a real-world clinical environment.

With the technology offered by simulations, including on-demand digital technology combined with a realistic mannequin, dentists can receive instant and objective feedback. Students learn through a more data-driven process, allowing them to refine treatment options, prioritize the best approach, and communicate effectively with the patient.

The pressures during a procedure can be intimidating. Even experienced dentists face high expectations for accuracy, patient communication, and complex case management, making continued skill development essential. Patient expectations have increased significantly in modern dentistry, but through the use of simulation technology, dentists can further build their confidence before treating their patients.

Potential for the future of dental education

As dental procedures become more complex, we need to evolve our thinking about the dental skills crisis. With an aging population and too many Americans suffering from oral diseases, training and continuing education methods need to take a leap forward.

Growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) is driving change, pushing clinics to begin integrating new technologies and preparing dentists for the future. By using AI-powered tools, dental practices can better understand and identify associate knowledge and skill gaps and, therefore, upskilling opportunities. For example, a dental practice in financial difficulty can use an AI tool to analyze the skills of its dentists and identify a skills gap in orthodontics or implant surgery. They could invest in continuing education resources to upskill their team and increase the amount of advanced care they provide, not only to improve their patients’ health outcomes, but also to earn more revenue.

Developments in AI have provided incredible momentum and positive impacts on diagnostic and practice optimization tools. However, it still comes down to a simple question: can the dentist deliver the treatment that they, or even the AI, know are needed? Thanks to advancements and a forward-thinking approach to training and education, the answer will soon be a resounding “yes.”

In the future, through the collaboration of technologists and practitioners, dentistry can lead the way in the use of advanced simulation-based training methods for the rest of healthcare. We know change is coming; The more dental practices modernize their approaches to continuing education, the better equipped they will be to address complex challenges, adapt to emerging treatments, and provide high-quality, patient-centered care in an increasingly technology-driven field.

Photo: Nastasic, Getty Images

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