CCBC Unveils Groundbreaking Dental Hygiene VR Lab

New virtual reality technology revolutionizes hands-on training for future dental hygienists.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has launched a first-of-its-kind virtual reality lab to provide dental hygiene students with immersive, hands-on training before treating real patients. The innovative VR technology, developed in collaboration with industry partners, allows students to practice critical clinical skills in a risk-free digital environment.

Why it matters

This VR lab addresses a key gap in dental hygiene education by giving students more opportunities to hone their skills and build confidence before working on patients. It also has the potential to improve student retention and help meet the growing demand for qualified dental hygienists.

The details

CCBC's new VR lab features headsets that transport students into a virtual dental clinic, where they can practice procedures like administering local anesthesia. The technology was developed by Gleechi, a Swedish company, with input from the New York University College of Dentistry. The lab was funded by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation and brought to life through a collaboration between CCBC's Dental Hygiene Program Director Brionna Watson and Howard R. Jean, founder and CEO of Black Meta Agency.

  • The VR lab opened in December 2025.
  • Watson first conceived the idea for the lab after attending the 2024 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tech Summit.

The players

Brionna Watson

The director of CCBC's Dental Hygiene Program who spearheaded the creation of the VR lab.

Howard R. Jean

The founder and CEO of Black Meta Agency, who helped Watson bring the VR lab to life.

Gleechi

The Swedish company that developed the VR technology software used in the lab.

New York University College of Dentistry

Provided input on the learning module for local anesthesia simulation in the VR lab.

Delta Dental Community Care Foundation

Funded the creation of the VR lab at CCBC.

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What they’re saying

“I like helping people, and I feel like a lot of people are apprehensive about coming to the dentist, and I want to be that person where I can encourage them to come.”

— Malique May-Holzman, First-year dental hygiene student (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“In this headset, they get to immerse themselves in a virtual dental environment, where they are actually able to get as much repetition as they would like with different clinical skillsets. That sequence that they get to practice really allows them to have more confidence, reduce their anxiety, and just allow them to have a risk-free environment with practicing before actually entering a patient's mouth.”

— Brionna Watson, Director of CCBC's Dental Hygiene Program (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“I feel like it being interactive is a lot more fun than just reading the textbook, in my opinion.”

— Malique May-Holzman, First-year dental hygiene student (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“It helps build confidence because you are actually doing the manual motions of it rather than just reading it in a textbook.”

— Malik Benu, First-year dental hygiene student (WBAL-TV 11 News)

What’s next

On April 25, students in CCBC's Interpreter Preparation Program and the Dental Hygiene Program will team up to offer free dental exams and cleanings to the deaf community.

The takeaway

CCBC's groundbreaking VR lab is revolutionizing dental hygiene education by providing students with a risk-free, hands-on training environment that builds their confidence and skills before treating real patients. This innovative approach has the potential to address the shortage of dental hygienists and improve patient care.