Use of virtual reality as a learning environment in dentistry.

Second Life (SL) is an online virtual world with a social environment that may serve as a valuable learning supplement to traditional preclinical teaching methods. The educational advantages of this virtual world include immersion and interactivity. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of using 3-dimensional interactive platforms (3DIPs) designed in SL to that of traditional teaching methods for developing students' understanding of dental clinical situations that are difficult to simulate in real life. For this study, 3DIPs were developed to compare the acquisition of 3 learning objectives: understanding concepts, procedural aspects of interaction with the patient, and spatial interpretation of anatomical structure interactions. A representative dental topic, the use of a semiadjustable articulator, was selected. A quasi-experimental design with 2 groups and pretest-posttest comparison was used. The students in the control group received the conventional teaching established for the subject, which does not include SL experiences. The students in the experimental group received conventional instruction and had access to all 3DIPs for 4 weeks without limitation. The pretest and posttest consisted of a multiple-choice test with 20 questions. A Student t test was used to compare the test results of the groups (significance level α = 0.05). The posttest scores for the understanding of concepts and spatial interpretation were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between groups in posttest scores on the topic of procedural aspects. Students who used cooperative methods for acquisition of knowledge were observed to be highly motivated. The results suggest that the SL environment helps students to understand anatomical interactions that are difficult to observe in real life, is attractive to students, and contains tools with high didactic potential.

Remoción dentaria del seno maxilar / Removal of tooth from maxillary sinus

La remoción quirúrgica de un diente retenido asintomático como medida preventiva es un tema en el que aún se encuentra ciertas discrepancias en la comunidad odontológica. El caso expuesto muestra la tendencia que el profesional debería seguir, orientándose a evaluar el riesgo de que se presente alguna complicación en el futuro por no removerlo. Este artículo describe la remoción de un diente retenido en el seno maxilar mediante la técnica de Cadwell-Luc; realizada en el Centro Quirúrgico de la Clínica Especializada en Odontología de la Universidad de San Martín de Porres. Siendo la sinusitis de origen odontogénico, el mayor riesgo de no removerla, con lo cual el tratamiento se hace más complejo; y para esto la técnica de Cadwell-Luc es la más indicada en estos casos. Al ser la sinusitis de origen odontogénico, es mayor el riesgo si no se remueve el diente, con lo cual el tratamiento se hace más complejo. La técnica de Cadwell-Luc es la más indicada en estos casos.

The surgical removal of a tooth asymptomatic retained as a preventive measure is an issue on which is still certain discrepancies in the dental community, the case presented shows that the professional trend should continue, driven to assess the risk that this is a complication in the future if not remove it. This article describes the removal of a tooth retained in the maxillary sinus through the technique of Cadwell-Luc; conducted at surgical center of the specilized clinic in density of the San Martín de Porres University. Being of origin odontogenic sinusitis, the greatest risk of not remove it, so that treatment becomes more complex, and for this, technique of Cadwell-Luc is the best alternative.

Transplante dentario autógeno / Autogenous tooth transplantation

Se presenta el caso de un transplante autógeno de una pieza madura realizado en el Centro Quirúrgico de la Clínica Especializada en Odontología de la Universidad de San Martín de Porres. Este reporte de caso demuestra que el resultado del tratamiento está estrechamente relacionado con la adecuada selección del caso, en el cual se debe tomar en cuenta la disponibilidad de una pieza donadora en buen estado y que su remoción no comprometa su integridad, además de evaluar que la anatomía de la pieza donadora sea compatible con el sitio receptor. El caso demuestra que el transplante autógeno de piezas dentarias maduras es una alternativa de tratamiento que debe ser considerada debido a los resultados positivos obtenidos cuando el caso es el indicado.

Presents the case of a transplant autogenous of a mature piece done in the Surgical Center of the Specialized Clinic in Dentistry at the University of San Martin de Porres. This case report demonstrates that the outcome of treatment is closely related to the proper selection of the case, which must take into account the availability of a donor piece in good condition and that its removal will not compromise its integrity, in addition to assess if the anatomy of the donor piece is compatible to recipient site. In addition, the case shows that the autogenous tooth transplantation is a mature alternative treatment that has to be considered because of the positive results obtained when the case is the indicated.