Comparative Evaluation of Verbal, Printed, and Virtual Reality Approaches for Post-Operative Dental Care Instructions: Perspectives of Patients and Dental Students

Background: Effective post-procedural management in dentistry is essential for optimal healing and prevention of complications. The mode of delivering post-procedural instructions influences both patient comprehension and compliance, as well as dental students’ learning and confidence. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of verbal communication, printed handouts, and virtual reality (VR)/Metaverse-based instructions in delivering post-operative care information to patients and dental students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 279 patients (150 males, 129 females) who underwent dental procedures and 100 dental students at different stages of training. Two structured questionnaires assessed comprehension, accessibility, confidence, and preference. Chi-square tests were applied to evaluate associations between instruction method and participant responses. Results: A majority of patients preferred verbal instructions for comprehension (55.2%) and confidence (51.9%), whereas VR was considered more systematic by a subset (21.5%). Among students, verbal instruction was valued for communication skills (46%), but VR/Metaverse was rated highest for accessibility (38%) and completeness (55%). Chi-square analysis showed no significant association between instruction method and patient preferences (p = 0.18), but a significant association was observed among students (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Verbal communication remains central to patient education due to its reassurance and trust-building value, whereas immersive technologies such as VR/Metaverse offer distinct advantages in accessibility and thoroughness for dental students. A hybrid approach combining traditional and digital methods may optimize post-operative care delivery and education.