Flexible Dental Simulation Models for Modern Teaching Programs

Every minute in the simulation clinic should be time well spent. And fiddling with complicated setups isn’t ever a good use of it. The reality is that dental programs differ in their equipment, curriculum and assessment requirements, so simulation products need to work around the institution rather than dictate how teaching is delivered. Fortunately, there’s a flexible way around this. Models that are universally compatible with existing equipment, including manikin heads and teeth.

At One Dental, we’re your Australian-owned go-to supplier of premium dental products for professionals, students and educators. We offer models that can be used with any brand of manikin head, which means institutions can upgrade their simulation equipment without starting all over again or replacing equipment they’ve already invested in.

Traditional screw-in models take time to fit, particularly when students need to secure both the upper and lower models at the beginning of a simulation session and remove them again at the end. One Dental’s Magnetic Quick Disconnect system is a faster alternative. Our internal articulator can be fitted into any brand of manikin head, which allows MQD models to be inserted and removed in seconds.

Convenience is nice, but the real advantage here is the time this gives back to students. They can get further through an exercise, repeat techniques they’re struggling with and have greater opportunity to work with their educators.

When you need to change models due to the exercise type during a session, it’s even easier. Students or educators can remove one and insert another without having to manually fasten each model into place. For those who prefer the traditional setup, our models are still available in screw-in versions.

No two dental programs are exactly the same, but accommodating those differences doesn’t have to mean changing the entire simulation setup. Our broad range of teeth variations and models gives academics plenty of choice depending on the area being taught and the level students have reached, while the core equipment stays the same.

Now, there are also more options for making those exercises as lifelike as possible. One Dental teeth are available in Vita shades that better represent natural colouring. For restorative exercises, students can even match the composite or crown material they’re working with to the simulated tooth rather than practising on a generic shade.

But perhaps the best news for academics is customisation. Caries can be placed in specific locations, while pulpal chambers and preparations can also be developed according to the exercise. This gives educators greater control over what students encounter rather than having to shape a lesson around the closest available option.

And we can take it a step further. Institutions can bring their own cases to One Dental and have the teeth, gingivae and X-rays developed around them or tailored to the exact requirements of a particular cohort. This means starting with what you really want to teach, then working backwards to create the simulation materials that support those objectives.

Of course, teaching is only part of the equation. Students also need to be assessed on what they’ve learned. At One Dental, we offer customised OSCE-style cases that can save educators’ preparation time while also helping protect examination integrity.

Practical dental exams can present some unusual fairness issues because students are working with physical teeth that can be removed and replaced. For example, an assessment tooth could potentially be substituted for one prepared beforehand. Or an adjacent tooth could be removed to give someone better access and visibility than they should have. So, being able to clearly distinguish examination teeth from those used for practice matters.

Historically, this was addressed in dental education by using permanent marker to identify assessment teeth, but these markings can sometimes be replicated. We worked with a university to develop customised stamping instead. Each tooth can carry its own unique identification, and the teaching institution can specify where it appears. This solution has since been adopted for Australian national accreditation examinations.

Then there’s the practical side of keeping a simulation clinic up and running throughout the year.

Schools using One Dental manikins, models and teeth receive complimentary annual servicing on an ongoing basis. Our team checks the equipment ahead of each academic year, with schools only charged if replacement parts are required. With manikins used repeatedly across multiple cohorts, regular servicing helps keep them ready for the demands of another year.

Access to consumables and replacement items is also something students and institutions appreciate. And we’re delivering in that space too with our vending machines, which can be tailored to the institution’s needs. This offering began as one machine supplying replacement teeth and now we’re in multiples universities across the country, with more popping up all the time.

Every teaching institution has built its simulation program around its own curriculum, students and approach to practical education. When one part needs improving, the rest shouldn’t have to be reworked to accommodate it. The better option is finding products and solutions that fit into what’s already working.

At One Dental, At One Dental, we can work with your training institution to understand what you need.

Contact us to learn more or browse our complete catalogue online now.