EVALUATING DENTAL CARIES PROGRESSION AND FLUORIDE INTERVENTION EFFICACY IN A VIRTUAL REALITY LAB: A SIMULATED STUDY WITH VIRTUAL PATIENTS

Аннотация

This study investigates the progression of dental caries and the effectiveness of fluoride varnish as a preventive intervention within avirtual reality (VR) laboratory environment. Twenty virtual patients, exhibiting caries stages ranging from early enamel lesions to moderate dentin involvement (ICDAS 1-4), were divided into two groups: Group A received weekly fluoride varnish applications. At the same time, Group B served as a control with no intervention. Over a 28-day simulation period under a high-sugar diet scenario, caries lesion depth was monitored using a virtual micro-CT scanning system. Results revealed that Group A experienced a 20% reduction in lesion depth (from 50 μm to 40 μm), suggesting remineralization, whereas Group B exhibited a 92% increase (from 52 μm to 100 μm), indicating significant progression. Statistical analysis using t-tests confirmed a notable difference between groups (p < 0.05). The VR platform provided a controlled, repeatable, and ethically sound framework, circumventing the limitations of traditional in vivo or in vitro studies. This research highlights VR’s potential as a transformative tool for dental research and education, offering a scalable and cost-effective approach to studying caries dynamics and testing preventive strategies. The findings align with established evidence of fluoride’s caries-protective effects and suggest broader applications for VRin exploringtherapeuticinterventions and training dental professionals. Keywords: Dental caries, virtual reality, fluoride varnish, caries progression, virtual patients, micro-CT 1.Introduction Dental caries, one of the most widespread chronic diseases worldwide, affects individuals across all age groups, with significant implications for oral health and quality of life. The condition arises from the interplay of dietary sugars, cariogenic bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus mutans), and host factors, leading to acid production that demineralizes enamel and dentin over time. Preventive measures, particularly the use of fluoride, have been cornerstone strategies in caries management for decades. Fluoride’s ability to enhance enamel remineralization, inhibit bacterial acid production, and strengthen tooth structure has been extensively validated in clinical settings. Yet, the methodologies employed to study caries progression and intervention efficacy—ranging from randomized controlled trials to animal models and laboratory-based experiments—present notable challenges, including high costs, ethical considerations, and difficulties in controlling variables suchas diet and oral hygienepractices. The advent of virtual reality (VR) technology offers a promising alternative to these traditional approaches. By simulating complex biological processes within a digital environment, VR http://www.internationaljournal.co.in/index.php/jasass 635 Volume15Issue03, March2025 Impact factor: 2019: 4.679 2020: 5.015 2021: 5.436, 2022: 5.242, 2023: 6.995, 2024 7.75 enables researchers to manipulate variables with precision, replicate experiments efficiently, and avoid the ethical dilemmas associated with human or animal subjects. In dentistry, VR has already gained traction as a training tool, with platforms like Simodont and VR Dental Training Systems allowing students to practice procedures in a risk-free setting. However, its application in caries research remains in its infancy, with limited exploration of how virtual environments can model disease progression and evaluate therapeuticinterventions. Literature Review: The caries-preventive role of fluoride is well-established. Early work by Featherstone (2004) elucidated its mechanism, demonstrating how fluoride ions integrate into hydroxyapatite to form fluorapatite, a more acid-resistant mineral. Systematic reviews, such as Marinho et al. (2013), have quantified fluoride varnish’s effectiveness, reporting caries reductions of 25-46% in pediatric populations, though data on adults and simulated models are less comprehensive. Meanwhile, VR’s role in dentistry has evolved rapidly. Studies like Joda et al. (2022) highlight its success in periodontal training, where virtual simulations improved procedural accuracy among novices. Kim et al. (2020) extended VR to disease modelling, simulating periodontal inflammation with high fidelity, yet caries-specific applications remain sparse. Virtual micro-CT, a non-invasive imaging technique, has been praised for its ability to detect minute changes in enamel and dentin density (Swain & Xue, 2009), making it an ideal candidate for integration into VR platforms. Despite these advancements, a significant gap persists in leveraging VR to study caries dynamics longitudinally and test interventions in a controlled, virtual setting. Rationale: Traditional caries research faces logistical hurdles. Clinical trials require large cohorts, long durations, and strict ethical oversight, whilein vitro models struggle to replicate the multifactorial nature of caries (e.g