Design of an Educational Tool Simulating Tooth Extraction Procedure

Abstract

Dental students need to develop clinical skills in determining the force applied during tooth extractions. A student must practice the procedure many times before attaining the appropriate skill level required for decision making during operations. A device is requested to improve proprioceptive experience and enhance operational practice while completing simple tooth extraction simulations. The current educational device being used by the ECU School of Dental Medicine as well as other institutions have been studied and analyzed. These educational devices lack a biopotential feedback mechanism and do not accurately mimic force requirements for simple tooth extractions. Ideation led to alternative design generation, in which each alternative was weighed against technical and economic feasibility criteria for selecting a preferred solution. A preferred device was designed, modeled, constructed, and tested in reflection to the design specifications and needs required by the users. Conclusions are stated for the final design with future recommendations on how the device can be improved, implemented, and commercialized.