Realistic Training for The Dentistry of Tomorrow

Before dental students treat patients, they practise on models. To this end, a total of 92 digital simulation units is now available in two state-of-the-art simulation rooms at Hanover Medical School (MHH). The Centre for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine at MHH thus offers one of the most advanced learning environments for dental training in Germany.
The new simulation rooms were completed whilst the university remained in operation. "We are delighted that, with the completion of this construction project, we are able to provide our students with the very latest learning and working conditions," explains MHH President Prof. Dr Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner. "In the new simulation rooms, students can practise complex treatment procedures under realistic conditions before taking on responsibility for patients."

New study regulations, new requirements
The previous simulation room or phantom course room for students in dentistry had been in use at MHH since 1993. In addition to the need for refurbishment arising from its long service, the construction project became more urgent because of the new Dental Licensing Regulations (ZApprO). This regulation stipulates that the degree programme must be divided into three stages, rather than the previous two. The consequences: more teaching in small groups, increased examination workload due to changed examination formats and a revised composition of examination boards, as well as altered student-to-tutor ratios in teaching, with fewer students/student per tutor. Consequently, the capacity of the phantom course rooms had to be urgently expanded.