Background/purpose: While haptic simulators in preclinical dentistry show promise, few studies predict novice dental students' performance in conventional simulations using haptic exercises. This study aimed to explore associations between (i) the number of failures in haptic exercises, (ii) the haptic performance index, and (iii) the quality of prosthetic preparation for cast crowns. Additionally, the students' perceptions regarding the use of the VirTeaSy Dentalâ haptic simulator was analyzed. Materials and methods: Forty novice students were randomly selected from the Dental Faculty of Nantes University in September 2022 (mean age: 19.7 AE 1.8 years). They completed four haptic exercises using the VirTeaSy Dentalâ simulator and prepared cast crowns on pedagogical phantom-mounted models. Data on haptic variables, prosthetic preparation quality scores, and the number of failed/successful haptic exercises were collected. Correlation analyses were conducted, and the mean preparation quality score was compared between students