Effect of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain and Anxiety During Dental Treatment in 5 to 8 Year Old Children

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the impact of Virtual Reality (VR) distraction technique on pain and anxiety in 5-8-year-old children, during short invasive dental procedures.

Study design: 120 children, aged 5-8 years, scoring less than 25 on the SCARED questionnaire, scheduled to undergo short invasive dental procedures, were randomly divided into a control (without VR distraction) and study group (with VR distraction) of 60 each. State anxiety levels were assessed in the children from both groups using revised version of Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale, before and after dental treatment. Pain perceived during treatment was assessed using Wong Baker Faces pain rating scale at the end of treatment. Salivary cortisol levels were also assessed before, during and after the dental procedure, in all children.

Results: We observed a significant reduction in pain perception and state anxiety in children, using VR distraction (p<0.001, p=0.002). The decrease in salivary cortisol levels was significantly greater in children using VR distraction (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Virtual Reality distraction can be used as a successful behavior modification method in children undergoing short invasive dental treatments.

Keywords: Pain perception; Salivary cortisol; Virtual reality; anxiety.