Background <p>The transition from pre-clinical to clinical practice has been described as a stressful stage for dental students. Several authors consider that simulation should be developed to prepare students for this transition. Does virtual reality (VR) simulation have a place in the training of pre-clinical students to prepare them for clinical practice, in particular in paediatric dentistry? The aim of our study was to assess the relevance of this tool by measuring student satisfaction and the impact of its use on the level of stress felt at the start of their clinical practice.</p> Method <p>3rd year students benefited from simulated VR consultations immersing them in a high-fidelity simulated environment reproducing their future workplace, with scenarios from current practice. Participants were assigned to either group A (VR session) or group B (hospital department presentation slideshow and question-and-answer session). Satisfaction and stress levels were assessed during the first few days of clinic via anonymized questionnaires.</p> Results <p>Satisfaction with VR was high. There was a significant drop in the level of stress felt by students in Group A: immediately after the VR session, 83.3% of participants reported a decrease in their anxiety related to the transition from the preclinical to the clinical phase. The impact of VR on stress during the first clinical placements is encouraging, showing a significant medium-term reduction in anxiety related to the hospital environment and the preparation of the dental treatment room.</p> Discussion <p>Using VR involves a learning curve, and comfort with the digital tool varies from person to person. The VR-based simulation tool is complementary to other preparatory methods. Future research will measure the impact of this tool on students’ efficiency in carrying out tasks related to clinical practice.</p>