To evaluate the effect of applying virtual simulation system to local anesthesia teaching in oral surgery.

Sixty undergraduates from grade 2017 five-year program of school of stomatology, Lanzhou University were selected as research subjects in July 2019. The students were divided into three groups by using the random number table, named control group (group C) , head-simulator group (group F) and virtual simulation system group (group V) , with 20 students in each group. Three groups received theoretical knowledge training and watched the operation demonstration. After the training and demonstration, they took the theoretical examination. Then group C students were divided into ten groups in pairs for inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia, with professional teachers scoring the scores. The students in group F were trained on the head simulator and the students in group V were trained on the virtual simulation system. After the training, the inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia injection operation examination and the second theoretical examination for three groups were conducted. Questionnaire surveys were conducted for group F and group V. SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis of the data. The comparison of two theoretical scores of each group was analyzed by paired sample t-test. The comparisons of the operation scores and anesthesia effect scores of different groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The comparisons of the operation scores and anesthesia effect scores between two groups were analyzed by independent-sample t test.

After the practice, the theoretical scores of the students in group V had been improved greatly (t_V = 3.768, P_V = 0.001) . However, the difference between the second theoretical scores and the first theoretical scores of students in group F and group C was not statistically significant (t_F = 2.079, P_F = 0.051; t_C = 0.538, P_C = 0.597) . The operation assessment scores were 82.1 ± 2.6 for group C, 83.9 ± 1.5 for group F and 85.7 ± 2.5 for group V, and the difference was statistically significant (F = 12.629, P<0.001) . Meanwhile, in the anesthesia effect assessment, the scores of three groups were 63.5 ± 6.7 for group C, 68.5 ± 5.9 for group F, and 74.0 ± 6.8 for group V, and the difference was statistically significant (F = 13.157, P<0.001) . The results of the questionnaire showed that most students thought that the virtual simulation system can improve the operation skills, theoretical knowledge level and learning interest.

In the preclinical teaching process of anesthesia injection, the virtual simulation system is more conductive for dental students to improve the operation skills and theoretical knowledge, which is worth promotion in the preclinical teaching of local anesthesia.