Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>This study evaluated the validity and effectiveness of “Plaque Busters VR”, a virtual reality serious game aimed at improving patients' knowledge on periodontal diseases and oral hygiene practices. Ten dentists were recruited to evaluate the content of the game and 42 biomedical engineering students who evaluated the design of the game. The students participated in a knowledge test both before and after playing the game to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing their knowledge. The game’s content demonstrated validity (content validity index of 0.98). The design evaluation results confirmed that "Plaque Busters VR" is a serious game featuring components that align with its intended purpose. Qualitative feedback indicated that most participants identified beneficial elements in the game design; however, it also highlighted some negative aspects, including technical issues and repetitive content. The student participants showed significant gain in knowledge after playing the game (p < 0.001). The findings of this study suggest that "Plaque Busters VR" could serve as an effective intervention tool for dentists to educate patients. Based on the feedback gathered, future enhancements to the game design can be made to improve the effectiveness of the current version.</p>