The Faculty of Dentistry takes pride in achieving a first. A virtual reality (VR) simulation training program has been designed for use in Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Radiology education through a project involving faculty members and students from Faculty of Dentistry, Institute of Informatics, and the Departments of Computer Engineering and Electrical-Electronics Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering. This simulation training program has been introduced for educational purposes alongside the Virtual Reality Laboratory, which was inaugurated by our Rector, Prof. Uğur Ünal.

The opening ceremony at the Faculty of Dentistry was attended by Rector, Prof. Uğur Ünal, along with Vice Rector, Prof. Serhat Karyeyen, Secretary General, Mustafa Afşar, Rector’s Advisors, Prof. Selami Candan, Prof. Serdar Polat, and Dr. Ahmet Bilal Dostbil, Dean, Prof. Kahraman Güngör, Director of the Institute of Informatics, Prof. Aslıhan Tüfekci, Vice Deans, Assoc. Prof. Gülsün Akay and Assoc. Prof. Gamze Metin, Faculty Secretary, Cüneyt Kılıç, and faculty members.

Rector, Prof. Uğur Ünal, expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the development of the simulation training program and the establishment of the laboratory. He toured the Virtual Reality Laboratory, received information about its features, and personally tested the virtual reality simulator by performing a dental X-ray on a virtual patient.

As a multidisciplinary project within the scope of the Gazi University Scientific Research Project (BAP), preparations have been completed for students to experience preclinical and clinical training during the 2024-2025 academic year. This project aims to overcome limitations such as radiation exposure by structuring intraoral radiographic imaging methods in a virtual reality environment. The effects of these applications on students’ professional skills and performance during undergraduate education will be evaluated.

With this initiative, third-and fourth-year dentistry students will benefit from a periapical radiographic imaging simulation, offering them a more interactive and visually focused learning experience. The project allows students to engage with contemporary technologies and improve their competencies. 

In the future, the Virtual Reality Laboratory is expected to facilitate the development of new projects and serve as a hub for virtual reality technology for students and researchers.

The project team includes the Dean, Prof. Kahraman Güngör; Faculty of Dentistry, Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Radiology Department faculty member (project coordinator), Assoc. Prof. Gülsün Akay; Director of the Informatics Institute, Prof. Aslıhan Tüfekci; Faculty of Engineering, Department of Computer Engineering faculty member, Assoc. Prof. Murat Yılmaz; Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering faculty member, Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Fevzi Akşahin; and Faculty of Engineering, Department of Computer Engineering faculty member, Assist. Prof. Öner Barut.