Immersive Simulation in Managing Child Anxiety in Dental Practice: Educational Impact and Student Perceptions

Pediatric dentistry requires both clinical skills and psychological insight to effectively connect with young patients. Traditional teaching approaches, including theoretical courses and clinical internships, often have limitations in student engagement and skill application. Immersive simulation has emerged as a valuable pedagogical tool, offering a safe and controlled learning environment that places students in realistic clinical scenarios. This study aimed to assess the satisfaction of fourth-year dentistry students at Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS) with simulation-based training and to examine its impact on their clinical preparedness. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among fourth-year dental students who participated in simulation sessions at the Mohammed VI International Center for Simulation in Science and Health. A structured 29-item questionnaire was administered to 108 students. The questionnaire assessed organizational, educational, relational, and technical aspects. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS software (v20), while qualitative responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: The participation rate was 95.5% (n = 108). Most students reported a high satisfaction with the welcoming reception (94.4%), the quality of materials (91.7%), the educational relevance of the scenarios (98.1%), and the usefulness of the debriefing sessions (96.2%). The simulation experience had a positive effect on students’ motivation, clinical confidence, stress management, and communication skills with children and their parents. Participants recommended the diversification of clinical cases, extension of session duration, and the reduction of group size. Conclusion: Clinical simulation is a valuable pedagogical tool in pediatric dentistry. It effectively bridges the gap between technical competence and interpersonal skills in a safe, controlled environment. Gradual integration of simulation into the dental curriculum is strongly recommended.