Enhancing Oral Mucosal Biopsy and Submucosal Injection Skills in Dental Students Using a Manikin-Compatible Buccal Mucosal Lesion Simulator.

PURPOSE: Oral mucosal biopsy and submucosal injection are essential clinical skills for dental students, yet traditional training relies on extraoral skin models that fail to replicate the texture of oral mucosa and the confined intraoral working space. This study aimed to develop a manikin-compatible buccal mucosal lesion simulator to address these limitations and evaluate its effectiveness in preclinical training.

METHODS

An intraoral simulator was designed to fit a dental manikin head, featuring realistic mucosal texture and anatomical constraints of the buccal region. Quantitative scoring rubrics were established based on clinical procedural standards to assess biopsy and injection performance. Thirty-six fourth-year dental students participated in a structured training session in September 2025, which included a didactic briefing followed by hands-on practice with the simulator. Pre- and post-training questionnaires evaluated procedural familiarity, self-reported confidence and simulator usability, while instructors used the rubrics to assess technical performance.

RESULTS

The scoring rubrics effectively differentiated students' procedural quality in both biopsy and injection tasks. Post-training questionnaires revealed significant improvements in students' familiarity with procedural workflows and confidence in performing the techniques. Most students rated the difficulty of the course as moderate and agreed that the intraoral mucosal simulator was well adapted to the restricted oral working space and provided a realistic approximation of clinical conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The manikin-integrated buccal mucosal lesion simulator provides clinically relevant training by addressing key limitations of traditional models. It enhances students' procedural skills and confidence, supporting its utility as a valuable tool in preclinical dental education.