The Simodont Dental Trainer is a haptic virtual-reality simulator for pre-clinical dental education, made by Nissin Dental Products, and it is used by dental schools to let students practise drilling and preparation with realistic force feedback before they treat patients. If you searched for “Simodont” hoping to download it, be aware that there is no “Academic edition”, no free version and no software download: Simodont software runs only on Simodont hardware units, which institutions buy from Nissin, and the vendor offers demonstrations on request.
Simodont was originally developed by Moog Inc., applying flight-simulation haptics to dentistry in close cooperation with ACTA, the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam. Nissin acquired the Simodont business from Moog in November 2018. The current software release is V4.22, the “New-Year 2025” release, with release notes covering updates up to 4.22.4.
Simodont Dental Trainer at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest version | Simodont software V4.22 (early 2025; patch releases up to 4.22.4) |
| Licence | Commercial (listed here as shareware): sold with Simodont hardware to institutions; no free download or trial; demonstrations on request |
| Platforms | Simodont V3 haptic simulator units (dedicated hardware); not a PC, Mac or mobile app |
| Developer | Nissin Dental Products (Kyoto, Japan; European headquarters in the Netherlands) |
| Official website | simodontdentaltrainer.com |
| Best for | Dental schools building a pre-clinical simulation lab |
What it does
- Combines a 3D display with a haptic handpiece, so students feel differences between enamel, dentine and pulp while cutting.
- Uses a foot pedal for drill control and a virtual mirror for indirect-vision practice; the mirror turns black if touched by the drill.
- Courseware for manual dexterity, caries removal, crown preparation, endodontics and periodontics.
- Implantology training, added in V4.18 (March 2024) with nine implant cases at three difficulty levels, guided and freehand.
- TrueTeethLab: converts CBCT or micro-CT scans (DICOM) into Simodont models, using an AI-trained algorithm to identify enamel, dentine and pulp.
- Imports intraoral scans (STL) and colour scans (PLY) that can be assigned to individual students.
- Teacher software for tracking student progress; students can also download reports of their own preparations.
How dental teams use it
Pre-clinical dexterity and cavity preparation
- The instructor assigns manual-dexterity exercises, then caries-removal cases, in the courseware.
- Students work with the handpiece and foot pedal, using the mirror for indirect vision.
- After each attempt, students and instructors review the result and repeat the case where needed.
Practising on a real patient’s anatomy
- Take a CBCT or micro-CT scan approved for teaching and convert it in TrueTeethLab.
- Load the resulting model with its enamel, dentine and pulp layers into Simodont.
- Let students rehearse an access cavity or preparation on that exact tooth before the clinical session.
Implant drilling rehearsal
- Open one of the implant cases added in V4.18.
- Start with guided drilling, then progress to freehand at higher difficulty.
Install and first run
There is nothing for an individual to install. Simodont units are delivered to institutions with the software on board, and new software releases are applied to existing Simodont V3 units. The official website’s downloads section provides documentation only: user manual, teacher manual, content catalogue, “what is new” notes, release notes and cleaning instructions for each release. Practical points for a school: plan space for the units, train instructors on the teacher software first, and schedule software updates between teaching blocks.
Limitations
- No software download, trial or academic edition for personal computers.
- Hardware-bound and a significant capital investment for a school.
- Simulation supplements, and does not replace, phantom-head and clinical training.
- Content is limited to the procedures in the courseware and models you create with TrueTeethLab.
- It is an education system, not a clinical or diagnostic device, and the official site makes no clinical claims for it.
Simodont Dental Trainer vs alternatives
Simodont focuses on hands-on, tooth-level skills. For anatomy teaching at the whole-body or head-and-neck level, schools use a virtual dissection system such as the Anatomage Table. For self-study of tooth morphology without hardware, 3D Tooth Atlas is a software-only option, and Primal Pictures covers 3D anatomy more broadly. Neither of those provides haptic feedback.
FAQ
Can I download Simodont?
No. There is no Simodont software download or free version; the software runs only on Simodont hardware purchased by institutions. The official site offers manuals and release notes.
What is the Simodont Dental Trainer cost?
Nissin does not publish prices on the official website. Schools request a quote or a demonstration from Nissin.
Is Simodont made by Moog or Nissin?
Both, historically. Moog developed it with ACTA, and Nissin Dental Products acquired the Simodont business from Moog in November 2018 and now develops and sells it.
What is a haptic dental simulator?
It is a virtual-reality trainer that pushes back on the student’s hand through a motorised handpiece, so drilling through enamel, dentine and pulp feels different, as it does on a real tooth.
Is there a Simodont academic edition?
No such edition exists. Simodont is sold to academic institutions as a complete system with courseware and teacher software.
What is new in Simodont V4.22?
V4.22 is the current release; the official downloads page provides its “what is new” document and release notes. Recent additions promoted by Nissin include TrueTeethLab and the ClickGrip set.
Last checked against official sources: 29 September 2026 (developer website: simodontdentaltrainer.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.
