Tooth ARcademy: An Interactive Mobile App for Oral Histology

Tooth ARcademy is an educational app designed to make oral histology more accessible, engaging, and interactive for dental students and to facilitate didactic teaching for instructors. Histology, the study of the microscopic structure of tissues, plays a crucial role in dental and medical education. However, traditional learning methods often fall short of providing an interactive experience.
In a traditional didactic classroom, instructors use photomicrographs from textbooks to teach students histology. The lack of sufficient high-quality, diverse tissue sections, photomicrographs, and insufficient class time are the major challenges faced by instructors. Tooth ARcademy bridges this gap by facilitating in-class learning and providing students with an extensive collection of diverse histological sections. Tooth ARcademy incorporates augmented reality (AR) technology and offers three unique modes— Learn, Practice, and Quiz.
Key Features of Tooth ARcademy
Tooth ARcademy contains a large collection of oral histology images. The images used in this app were prepared from the collection of digital slides owned by the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry, University of Alberta. The annotations and questions were prepared by content experts, who are faculty members of the School.
Tooth ARcademy has three modes— Learn, Practice, and Quiz.
1. Learn Mode: The Learn Mode incorporates AR technology to visualize histology target images. Using this mode, instructors can facilitate interactive teaching in their classrooms and labs. When using the app in Learn Mode, students can point their device’s camera at histology target images, and the app will automatically identify and reveal the annotation of that slide and highlight key structures of that tissue section. This AR functionality allows students to visualize histological structures more dynamically than what is offered by conventional textbooks or slides, enhancing their grasp of spatial orientation and the microscopic architecture of tissues. Instructors can use the Learn Mode of Tooth ARcademy and target images to create practice questions, in-class games and small-group activities, tailored to meet specific learning outcomes.
2. Practice Mode: In the Practice Mode, students can access a large collection of diverse and rare oral tissue sections. In Practice Mode, students are presented with images that they can interact with to identify specific tissues and structures. By consistently engaging in these exercises, students can develop a deeper understanding of oral histology while reinforcing their ability to recognize and differentiate between tissue types.
3. Quiz Mode: The Quiz Mode allows students to test their knowledge and assess their understanding of oral histology. Quizzes cover topics ranging from the basic identification of tissues to more complex, in-depth questions about their function and importance.
The quizzes consist of multiple-choice questions on image-based identification. At the end of the quiz, students get their total score and can review their performance, helping them stay on top of their studies.
Why Choose Tooth ARcademy?
1. Self-paced learning for flexibility
2. Augmented reality for enhanced learning
3. Comprehensive learning tools

Conclusion
The knowledge of oral histology is essential for dental, medical, and other health professional education. Tooth ARcademy can serve as a supplementary learning tool for students, allowing them to access a large number of histological sections outside of class time. With its intuitive AR features, interactive learning models, and personalized feedback, the app offers students the resources to enhance their learning experiences. Instructors can use the Learn Mode of Tooth ARcademy to create additional learning opportunities for students. This mobile app can facilitate the teaching and learning of oral histology and become an integral part of dental education.