University of Otago School of Dentistry students will be able to learn how to do everything from root canals to orthodontic work with the click of a mouse next year.
Staff and students will have access to online learning program e-Den next year following a decision by the school to spend $50,000 on licences for the program for everyone in the faculty.
Otago would be the first university outside the United Kingdom to use the program.
School of Dentistry dean Prof Paul Brunton said the UK National Health Service developed program would not replace face to face teaching, rather supplement it.
''When I used to give my lectures in the UK I would get students to look at e-Den beforehand ...
''It allows them to relate theory to clinical examination and treatment, which is very valuable.''
The program taught 12 modules through illustrations, anatomical animations and videos, Prof Brunton said.
Before beginning his role at the university, Prof Brunton lead the development of the project in the UK and he remained its clinical leader.
While he had informed dentistry students about the program, the decision to buy into it was made by students rather than himself, he said.
''There was always a lot of enthusiasm for it because to develop our own e-learning program would be very time consuming and expensive.''
The success of the program in the faculty would be evaluated at the end of next year before the licence was renewed, he said.
