Effect of Virtual Reality on Dental Anxiety in Children

The aim of this study is to reduce dental anxiety in children by using virtual reality glasses (VRG) with a special content and innovative interactive methods, to determine the level of stress experienced by patients during dental treatment and to ease the workload of dentists. Within the scope of the study, the participants being examined are in a controlled manner from the practice environment. They are attached a VRG and headphones throughout the treatment. With the help of VRG, it is ensured that participants are ready for the treatment. During the treatment, the participant's focus is on various contents in terms of spectacles. Contents include visual (video surveillance) and auditory stimuli (listening to music). They also provide information about treatment to the patient with the help of avatars (characters) and environmental elements that are placed into the VRG application. In addition, dental anxiety is reduced by the fun contents. The goal is to increase the rate of dental treatment success in child patients. The effectiveness of virtual reality system is tested by comparing evaluation metrics of three groups of children. In the first group, the dentist carries out the treatment alone. In the second group participants watch cartoons on a screen mounted dental unit during the treatment. In the third group, dental treatment is carried out with VRG. In the course of these experiments, the effects of VRG on dental treatment (vital pulpotomy and dental filling) that require local anesthesia is examined in order to measure the effects of VRG on the level of stress on dental treatment. Corresponding measures are; (1) the child's anxiety; (2) the child's pain perception during local anaesthesia and treatment; (3) the child's cooperation and general behaviour. The outcomes of the child's anxiety, pain perception, cooperation and general behaviour for three groups were evaluated by statistical analysis.