Virtual teeth for endodontics training and practice

This paper describes the use of virtual environments in endodontics. The problems associated with capturing the virtual environment by defining and manipulating the geometric shapes of teeth are illustrated. Dentists require ways of interacting with the virtual environment which closely mirror the conditions under which they work. Touch is very important when working in the close confines of the mouth and using instruments within dental cavities. Therefore, the paper reports on experimentation with novel interactive techniques designed to work with the available geometric representations of teeth. These techniques involve combining surface descriptions with force feedback and collision detection, to give the dentist realistic sensations in simulating treatment procedures. Some early experiments with distributed environments are described, with potential for collaboration in mentored training.