NYU’s College of Dentistry is offering students a new way to master anesthesia injections by using virtual reality (VR), the university announced.
Traditionally, dental students practiced giving local anesthesia by injecting one another, a method that often caused anxiety. Now, students can use VR to practice injections multiple times before performing the procedure on real patients.
“It helps to reaffirm, refine, and refresh their skills,” said Dr. Marci Levine, clinical associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery. “With VR available on demand, students can take it home and practice repeatedly with feedback.”
Students first encounter the VR system during their second year in a one-on-one instructional session after learning about anesthesia in class. In their third year, they borrow one of 60 VR headsets to practice at home before administering injections to patients.
Levine, inspired by colleagues in other NYU departments, collaborated with the university’s IT team to redesign her oral surgery course. This included multimedia elements, role-playing exercises, and the development of a custom VR system that replicates the anatomy of the head and neck.
The system, built from scratch, features virtual spaces modeled after the school’s clinics. Students use the program to set up equipment, interact with a simulated patient, and practice giving injections with real-time feedback.
“It’s about building both competence and confidence,” Levine said.
