Author(s):
To provide insight into virtual reality/augmented reality in oral implant ology. Oral Implants are currently an established treatment modality in fixed prosthodontics. It requires a certain amount of advanced skill gained from theoretical and extensive clinical experience. With the recent introduction of three-dimensional (3D) diagnostic and treatment planning technologies in implant dentistry, a team approach to the planning and placement of dental implants, according to a restoratively driven treatment plan, has become the norm in quality patient care. Incorporation of virtual reality in the education and treatment planning in implant ology could revolutionize the practical patient management in clinical scenario. This study hence aims to spread awareness on the methods and equipment required for virtual/augmented which could change the way we learn and teach. With computer assisted procedures becoming more and more part of dentistry, the introduction of virtual reality and augmented reality based teaching, treatment planning and simulation software’s has opened avenues to better understanding, diagnosis and treatment and created an interdisciplinary environment in which communication leads to better patient care and outcomes. Combining virtual and augmented reality aided software in implant dentistry provides trainees and dentists a holistic learning experience on anatomical knowledge, spatial visualization, judgment and interprofessional teamwork. Dentistry has got practically little attention from VR research, yet it is rapidly becoming an often used therapeutic aid in orthopedics and neurophysiologic procedures. This review can hence become a source of reference on virtual and augmented reality in oral implantology.
