Feasibility of a new virtual patient method to teach TMD dental care
Official title: Feasibility of a New Methodology for Dental Education in Temporomandibular Disorders through Virtual Patient-Based Learning
Funded at Midwestern University · NIH-11360207 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at dental students, this project tests a virtual patient-based learning method to improve understanding and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Midwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Downers Grove, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $105,450 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DE034042-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360207 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are dental students in predoctoral programs who will benefit from enhanced TMD training.
✕Less likely to help
Patients will not participate directly; this study focuses on student education.
What this research studies
This project explores using interactive virtual patients created from real patient data to teach predoctoral dental students about temporomandibular disorders. It will test how well this VPBL approach helps learners recognize TMD symptoms and plan appropriate care. The study is designed to be implemented within dental education settings across US schools and to measure learners’ knowledge and confidence. The work addresses gaps in traditional TMD education and seeks to modernize training through digital, patient-centered simulations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, dental students may gain better skills to diagnose and manage TMD, potentially improving patient care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous educational simulations show promise in improving clinical reasoning in dentistry, but this specific VPBL approach for TMD is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Midwestern University
Downers Grove, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sangalli, Linda — Midwestern University
- Study coordinator: Sangalli, Linda
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.