Virtual Reality–Based Simulation in Dental Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This manuscript presents a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)–based simulation in dental education, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search across major databases identified randomized, quasi-experimental, observational, and qualitative studies assessing VR and haptic-enhanced training in preclinical and simulated clinical settings. The findings demonstrate that VR-based education significantly improves psychomotor skills, procedural accuracy, learner confidence, and competency development compared to conventional teaching methods, particularly in operative dentistry, endodontics, and tooth preparation training. Risk of bias was assessed using validated tools appropriate to study design, and overall methodological quality ranged from low to moderate. Meta-analytic synthesis revealed moderate to very high effect sizes favoring VR interventions, supporting its role as an effective and increasingly essential adjunct in modern dental curricula.