The effect of virtual reality glasses on dental anxiety in children who will receive dental treatment for the first time: a randomized controlled trial (RCT)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of explaining treatment procedures using virtual reality glass (VRG) in a pretreatment waiting room on pretreatment anxiety and behaviors during the treatment process in pediatric patients who will undergo dental treatment for the first time. This randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) randomly assigned 60 children who underwent dental filling treatment to the intervention group (VRG) (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). Children's anxiety levels were assessed using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale: Faces Version (MCDAS(f)), and child's behavior during treatment was assessed using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale (FBRS). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to assess the effect of VRG intervention on dental anxiety in children aged 7 and 12. ANCOVA analysis showed that VRG intervention had a significant effect on MCDAS(f) post-test, and FBRS post-test between groups (p values < .05). In addition, post-tests did not differ significantly between groups (p values > .05). This study confirms that providing information via VRG is an effective way to decrease dental anxiety and enhance compliance during treatment in children aged 7 to 12. The results of this study show that procedures aimed at providing information using virtual reality glass before dental treatment is an effective way for reducing child's dental anxiety. Hence, it may facilitate children's compliance with treatment and dentists' realization of treatment.