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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jun;12(6):e2600.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.2600. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

A digital intervention using virtual reality helmets to reduce dental anxiety of children under local anesthesia and primary teeth extraction: A randomized clinical trial

Qin Du  1   2 , Xinru Ma  1   3 , Shasha Wang  1   4 , Shiyu Zhou  1   4 , Chunmei Luo  1   3 , Kun Tian  1   2 , Wei Fei  1   2 , Xianghong Liu  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A digital intervention using virtual reality helmets to reduce dental anxiety of children under local anesthesia and primary teeth extraction: A randomized clinical trial

Qin Du et al. Brain Behav. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Behavior management of children during dental treatment is an important but challenging issue. As a new technique, VR has been applied in pediatric dental anxiety. But there is no final conclusion whether VR reduces children's dental anxiety.

Methods: The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of a digital intervention using virtual reality (VR) helmets on dental anxiety, pain perception, and behavior triggered for children, as well as occurrence of simulator sickness in local anesthesia and primary teeth extraction. A total of 128 children, who needed primary teeth extraction under local anesthesia, were randomly allocated into two groups: use VR helmets and traditional behavior guidance procedures (control). Modified Child Fear Survey Schedule Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale, Houpt Scale, and Simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) were used to assess children's dental anxiety, pain perception, and behavior triggered and occurrence of simulator sickness.

Results: CFSS-DS score in the VR group was significantly decreased after dental treatment (34.58±6.90 before operation and 32.32±15.58 after operation, p = .02). The score of Wong Baker Scale in the VR group (3.47±0.76) was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.56±1.13, p = .015). There was no significant difference in the Houpt Behavior Scale score and the SSQ score between the VR group and the control group (p = .35, p = .305).

Conclusion: The use of VR helmets in primary teeth extraction can significantly reduce dental anxiety and pain perception in children without occurrence of simulator sickness.

Keywords: child behavior; dental anxiety; distraction systems; pain perception; virtual reality exposure therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
VR (virtual reality) system for children and screenshots of the virtual scenes. (a) It consists of a wireless head‐mounted helmet with noise‐reducing headphones and a controller. (b) Application of VR system during dental operation. (c) VR questionnaire before treatment. (d) Sakura scene for tell‐show‐do. (e) One relax scene during dental treatment
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The flow chart for application of virtual reality during different operation stages
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The flow chart of the randomized clinical study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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