VIDA XR: Mixed Reality Tool for teaching anatomy to dental students
Resumo
Teaching dental anatomy faces challenges related to ethical concerns, cost of materials and quality of artificial representations. Virtual and augmented reality technologies have been explored for education and training in healthcare for the same motivations. In this paper we present a novel mixed reality tool that allows dental students to visualize and manipulate 3D models of tooth surface and tooth root, generated from microtomography scans. The development process by a multidisciplinary team is described, followed by results from performance evaluation and assessment by an expert panel. Performance was within the guidelines for applications in the adopted head-mounted device, and expert assessment was positive regarding its usefulness and ease of use. Future work includes assessing the tool’s pedagogical effectiveness in anatomy classes.
Palavras-chave:
Mixed Reality, Dental Education, Microtomography
Referências
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Collaço, E. Kira, E. Sallaberry, L. H. Queiroz, A. C. M. Machado, M. A. A. M. Crivello Jr, O. and Tori, R. (2021). Immersion and haptic feedback impacts on dental anesthesia technical skills virtual reality training. Journal of Dental Education, 85(4):589–598. DOI: 10.1002/jdd.12503.
Davis, F. Bagozzi, R. and Warshaw, P. (1989). User acceptance of computer technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management Science, 35:982–1003. DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.35.8.982.
Diegritz, C. Fotiadou, C. Fleischer, F. and Reymus, M. (2024). Tooth anatomy inspector: A comprehensive assessment of an extended reality (XR) application designed for teaching and learning of root canal anatomy by students. International Endodontic Journal, 57(11):1682–1688. DOI: 10.1111/iej.14124.
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Fugill, M. (2013). Defining the purpose of phantom head. European Journal of Dental Education, 17(1):e1–e4. DOI: 10.1111/eje.12008.
García-Robles, P. Cortés-Pérez, I. Nieto-Escámez, F. A. García-López, H. Obrero-Gaitán, E. and Osuna-Pérez, M. C. (2024). Immersive virtual reality and augmented reality in anatomy education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Anatomical Sciences Education, 17(3):514–528. DOI: 10.1002/ase.2397.
Grad, P. Przeklasa-Bierowiec, A. M. Malinowski, K. P. Witowski, J. Proniewska, K. and Tatoń, G. (2023). Application of hololens-based augmented reality and three-dimensional printed anatomical tooth reference models in dental education. Anatomical Sciences Education, 16(4):743–755. DOI: 10.1002/ase.2241.
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Kim-Berman, H. Bui, D. Lee, K. Mitchell, V. Bonine, B. Benavides, E. Soki, F. and Ramaswamy, V. (2023). Student learning of head and neck anatomy using cone beam computed tomography and immersive virtual reality. Journal of Dental Education, 87(8):1180–1187. DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13224.
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Meta (2024a). CPU and GPU levels. Available at: [link].
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Milgram, P. and Kishino, F. (1994). A taxonomy of mixed reality visual displays. IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems, E77-D(12):1321–1329. Available at: [link].
Nunes, F. L. S. de Oliveira, J. C. dos Santos Nunes, L. S. M. E. P. Costa, R. M. and Queiroz, A. C. M. (2020). Introdução a Realidade Virtual e Aumentada, chapter Saúde. Editora SBC, Porto Alegre, 3rd edition. DOI: 10.5753/sbc.6654.2.
PicoXR (2025). Pico 4 Ultra VR-MR headset. Available at: [link].
Reymus, M. Liebermann, A. and Diegritz, C. (2020). Virtual reality: An effective tool for teaching root canal anatomy to undergraduate dental students – a preliminary study. International Endodontic Journal, 53(11):1581–1587. DOI: 10.1111/iej.13380.
Santos, B. and Trevisan, D. (2023). Overview and tendencies of augmented reality applications in medicine. In Anais do XXV Simpósio de Realidade Virtual e Aumentada, pages 26–37, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. SBC. DOI: 10.1145/3625008.3625013.
Souza-Junior, V. D. D. Mendes, I. A. C. Tori, R. Marques, L. P. Mashuda, F. K. K. Hirano, L. A. F. and Godoy, S. D. (2020). VIDA-Nursing v1.0: Immersive virtual reality in vacuum blood collection among adults. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 28. DOI: 10.1590/1518-8345.3685.3263.
Tori, R. da Silva Hounsell, M. and Kirner, C. (2020). Introdução a Realidade Virtual e Aumentada. Porto Alegre: Editora SBC. DOI: 10.5753/sbc.6654.2.
Unity Technologies (2025). Unity. Available at: [link].
Varjo (2025). Varjo XR-4 series. Available at: [link].
Alsufyani, N. Alnamlah, S. Mutaieb, S. Alageel, R. AlQarni, M. Bukhari, A. Alhajri, M. AlSubaie, A. Alabdulkarim, M. and Faden, A. (2023). Virtual reality simulation of panoramic radiographic anatomy for dental students. Journal of Dental Education, 87(8):1200–1209. DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13240.
Apple (2025). Apple vision pro. Available at: [link].
Autodesk Inc. (2025). Meshmixer. Available at: [link].
Azuma, R. Baillot, Y. Behringer, R. Feiner, S. Julier, S. and MacIntyre, B. (2001). Recent advances in augmented reality. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 21(6):34–47. DOI: 10.1109/38.963459.
Bairsto, R. (2021). Phantom head. British Dental Journal, 231(3):152–152. DOI: 10.1038/s41415-021-3346-8.
Bevizova, K. Falougy, H. E. Thurzo, A. and Harsanyi, S. (2024). Is virtual reality enhancing dental anatomy education? a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medical Education, 24(1):1395. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-06233-0.
Blender Foundation (2025). Blender. Available at: [link].
Brasil (1997). Lei dos transplantes de Órgãos | lei nº 9.434, de 4 de fevereiro de 1997. Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil. Available at: [link].
Collaço, E. Kira, E. Sallaberry, L. H. Queiroz, A. C. M. Machado, M. A. A. M. Crivello Jr, O. and Tori, R. (2021). Immersion and haptic feedback impacts on dental anesthesia technical skills virtual reality training. Journal of Dental Education, 85(4):589–598. DOI: 10.1002/jdd.12503.
Davis, F. Bagozzi, R. and Warshaw, P. (1989). User acceptance of computer technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management Science, 35:982–1003. DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.35.8.982.
Diegritz, C. Fotiadou, C. Fleischer, F. and Reymus, M. (2024). Tooth anatomy inspector: A comprehensive assessment of an extended reality (XR) application designed for teaching and learning of root canal anatomy by students. International Endodontic Journal, 57(11):1682–1688. DOI: 10.1111/iej.14124.
Dzyuba, N. Jandu, J. Yates, J. and Kushnerev, E. (2022). Virtual and augmented reality in dental education: The good, the bad and the better. European Journal of Dental Education. DOI: 10.1111/eje.12871.
Fugill, M. (2013). Defining the purpose of phantom head. European Journal of Dental Education, 17(1):e1–e4. DOI: 10.1111/eje.12008.
García-Robles, P. Cortés-Pérez, I. Nieto-Escámez, F. A. García-López, H. Obrero-Gaitán, E. and Osuna-Pérez, M. C. (2024). Immersive virtual reality and augmented reality in anatomy education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Anatomical Sciences Education, 17(3):514–528. DOI: 10.1002/ase.2397.
Grad, P. Przeklasa-Bierowiec, A. M. Malinowski, K. P. Witowski, J. Proniewska, K. and Tatoń, G. (2023). Application of hololens-based augmented reality and three-dimensional printed anatomical tooth reference models in dental education. Anatomical Sciences Education, 16(4):743–755. DOI: 10.1002/ase.2241.
Jerald, J. (2018). What is Virtual Reality. Association for Computing Machinery and Morgan & Claypool. Book.
Kim-Berman, H. Bui, D. Lee, K. Mitchell, V. Bonine, B. Benavides, E. Soki, F. and Ramaswamy, V. (2023). Student learning of head and neck anatomy using cone beam computed tomography and immersive virtual reality. Journal of Dental Education, 87(8):1180–1187. DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13224.
Kim-Berman, H. Karl, E. Sherbel, J. Sytek, L. and Ramaswamy, V. (2019). Validity and user experience in an augmented reality virtual tooth identification test. Journal of Dental Education, 83(11):1345–1352. DOI: 10.21815/JDE.019.139.
Mahrous, A. Elgreatly, A. Qian, F. and Schneider, G. B. (2021). A comparison of pre-clinical instructional technologies: Natural teeth, 3D models, 3D printing, and augmented reality. Journal of Dental Education, 85(11):1795–1801. DOI: 10.1002/jdd.12736.
Mann, S. and Wyckof, C. (1991). Extended reality, MIT 4–405 (1991). Available at: [link].
Meta (2022). Power management. Available at: [link].
Meta (2024a). CPU and GPU levels. Available at: [link].
Meta (2024b). OVR metrics tool stats definition guide. Available at: [link].
Meta (2024c). Performance analyzer and metrics. Available at: [link].
Meta (2025). Meta Quest 3. Available at: [link].
Milgram, P. and Kishino, F. (1994). A taxonomy of mixed reality visual displays. IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems, E77-D(12):1321–1329. Available at: [link].
Nunes, F. L. S. de Oliveira, J. C. dos Santos Nunes, L. S. M. E. P. Costa, R. M. and Queiroz, A. C. M. (2020). Introdução a Realidade Virtual e Aumentada, chapter Saúde. Editora SBC, Porto Alegre, 3rd edition. DOI: 10.5753/sbc.6654.2.
PicoXR (2025). Pico 4 Ultra VR-MR headset. Available at: [link].
Reymus, M. Liebermann, A. and Diegritz, C. (2020). Virtual reality: An effective tool for teaching root canal anatomy to undergraduate dental students – a preliminary study. International Endodontic Journal, 53(11):1581–1587. DOI: 10.1111/iej.13380.
Santos, B. and Trevisan, D. (2023). Overview and tendencies of augmented reality applications in medicine. In Anais do XXV Simpósio de Realidade Virtual e Aumentada, pages 26–37, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. SBC. DOI: 10.1145/3625008.3625013.
Souza-Junior, V. D. D. Mendes, I. A. C. Tori, R. Marques, L. P. Mashuda, F. K. K. Hirano, L. A. F. and Godoy, S. D. (2020). VIDA-Nursing v1.0: Immersive virtual reality in vacuum blood collection among adults. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 28. DOI: 10.1590/1518-8345.3685.3263.
Tori, R. da Silva Hounsell, M. and Kirner, C. (2020). Introdução a Realidade Virtual e Aumentada. Porto Alegre: Editora SBC. DOI: 10.5753/sbc.6654.2.
Unity Technologies (2025). Unity. Available at: [link].
Varjo (2025). Varjo XR-4 series. Available at: [link].
Publicado
30/09/2025
Como Citar
SILVA, Izabela Marina Ferreira da; ARCANJO, Emilly da Silva; RAMOS, Lucas Carvalho; MACEDO, Mary Caroline Skelton; , Laila Gonzales Freire; MALTAROLLO, Thalya Fernanda Horsth; TORI, Romero; NAKAMURA, Ricardo.
VIDA XR: Mixed Reality Tool for teaching anatomy to dental students. In: SIMPÓSIO DE REALIDADE VIRTUAL E AUMENTADA (SVR), 27. , 2025, Salvador/BA.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2025
.
p. 74-83.
