The use of virtual reality and augmented reality in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a narrative review

Objective. The purpose of this article is to review the current uses of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in oral and maxillofacial surgery. We discuss the use of VR/AR in educational training, surgical planning, advances in hardware and software, Study Design. A retrospective comprehensive review search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted. The search resulted in finding 313 English articles in the last 10 years. Results. A total of 38 articles were selected after a meticulous review of the aims, objectives, and methodology by 2 independent Conclusions. Virtual reality/AR technology offers significant potential in various aspects, including student education, resident evaluation, surgical planning, and overall surgical implementation. However, its widespread adoption in practice is hindered by factors such as the need for further research, cost concerns, unfamiliarity among current educators, and the necessity for technological improvement. Furthermore, residency programs hold a unique position to influence the future of oral and maxillofacial surgery. As VR/AR has demonstrated substantial benefits in resident education and other applications, residency programs have much to gain by integrating these emerging technologies into their curricula. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2024;137:12-18)