Digital applications are widely implemented in various fields of dental medicine. Among them, augmented, mixed and virtual reality demonstrate remarkable potential and are finding their way into clinical practice in implant-related dentistry. Nowadays, augmented reality glasses can be used for computer-assisted implant surgery to watch radiological data that is superimposed on the operation field. In the future, augmented reality glasses could be used to directly transmit real-time information from dynamic navigation to the surgical area. Optical see-through head-mounted displays, as the most frequently used device of mixed reality, have a significant potential for both clinical and educational implementation. They can be used to increase the accuracy of implant placement by minimizing angular, apical and coronal deviation compared to a freehand approach. In implant-related dentistry video see-through head-mounted displays, as a virtual reality device, could facilitate communication between patient and dentist during treatment planning. They could also be used for educational and training purposes, for example to learn about root canal anatomy. This article presents an overview of the implementation of augmented, mixed and virtual reality in implant dentistry and dental education and recommendations related to the current and potential use of these devices.
With the advent of the digital age, there has been a paradigm shift in medicine and dentistry towards the use of digital tools and applications that offer new possibilities. “Smile design”, “virtual patient simulations” and “digital wax-up” are good examples of the increasing use of digital applications in implant dentistry. However, due to the novelty of these technologies, a lack of scientifically based evidence has been observed.
Three-dimensional (3D) imaging, intraoral scanning (Morales-Vadillo et al. 2019) and computer-aided manufacturing have significantly increased treatment quality. These technologies are progressively integrated into clinical dental protocols. Various key performance indicators such as treatment quality, accuracy of implant placement, better communication with the dental technician and patient, time-efficiency, overall costs, operator experience and patient satisfaction need to be considered (Romandini et al. 2023). Nevertheless, the integration of new digital tools requires precise comparison with established clinical standards to make a careful transition from conventional to digital approaches (Li et al. 2024). Furthermore, the adoption of more advanced tools requires a smooth transition process.
Computer simulations demonstrate remarkable potential and have already shown successful implementation in many surgical disciplines and educational fields (Co et al. 2023; da Silva et al. 2022; Leger et al. 2017). Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) serve as the technological basis for overlaying various imaging files, creating non-invasive simulations and virtual dental patients, allowing for comparisons of different outcomes prior to any clinical intervention. Thus, AR glasses allow the direct overlay of, for instance, radiological data onto the surgical field during implant placement, eliminating the need for frequent switches between navigation data on the screen and the operation field and reducing disruption for both surgeon and assistant (Sadilina et al. 2024). Mixed reality (Al Omran et al. 2020) displays can also be used for computer-assisted navigation during implant placement. VR glasses could be used as a device for teaching in a safe virtual environment, especially on 3D anatomical and teeth models, which reduce the number of cadavers and extracted teeth used in teaching settings (Fig. 1).
Due to the variety of new technologies in the field of computer simulations and the heterogeneity of terminology in the existing literature, the aim of this article is to highlight current and relevant scientific information on the implementation of augmented, mixed and virtual reality devices in implant-related dentistry and dental education and to provide structured, practical recommendations for the current and potential use of these devices.