Development and application of "Dental Anatomy Learning Platform" based on WeChat small program of smart phones

Abstract

For displaying the three-dimensional (3D) digital model of teeth, we constructed a digital learning platform of oral anatomy and physiology-tooth based on the WeChat small program of smart phones integrating teaching resources like texts, pictures, videos, three-dimensional animation and others. The textual content of tooth morphology was edited according to the Chinese textbook Oral Anatomy and Physiology (seventh edition) of the People's Health Publishing House and Wheeler's Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion. After photographing and cone beam CT scanning the tooth in vitro, JPEG file of tooth contour and DICOM file of tooth cross section were obtained. Continuous tomographic dynamic pictures of the tooth and 3D videos was presented by adopting software of Photoshop CS6, CS 3D imaging (affiliated simple software of cone beam CT), Snagit, Video Editor and Aijianji. Following steps of WeChat official website to register, develop, compose code, upgrade pictures and texts, submit to be verified and release, small program Dental Anatomy Learning Platform was completed and put into use. According to the survey, 90.3%(93) users believed the small program is helpful to learn Oral Anatomy and Physiology, especially in deepening the understanding of the tooth morphology and structure; 96.1%(99) users considered that the small program can be added to the classroom as a supplement, but it can't replace the textbook totally. The development of Dental Anatomy Learning Platform will provide methodological guidance for the development and integration of various dental teaching resources on the internet. Key words: Oral Anatomy and physiology; Digital technology; Curriculum reform