143 - Effect of Virtual Reality on Pediatric Dental Patients

Purpose: This study examined the potential differences in pain perception and clinical anxiety during dental anesthesia in pediatric patients utilizing three different types of distraction techniques, one of which was a virtual reality device.

Methods: Thirty ASA I pediatric patients (6 – 10 years old) requiring local anesthetic injection for dental treatment on the maxillary arch were recruited.  The study was approved by the institutional IRB and research consent was obtained from the legal guardian of each patient. Assent from the child was also obtained when applicable. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) Virtual Reality (Oculus VR for immersion distraction), (2) iPad (video distraction), and (3) control (coloring book). Four physiological response variables (BP, pulse, respiration, temperature) and two behavioral perceptions (anxiety, pain) were quantified at four steps during the treatment appointment.

Results: Statistical significance was noted in increased systolic (P < 0.01) and diastolic (P < 0.00001) blood pressures with time, but not among different groups. P-value was not significant for anxiety. There was a significant effect in pain and time among groups. Pain increased with time in the control and VR groups, but not in the iPad group.

Conclusions:  Distraction techniques have the potential to be used for behavior management in pediatric dentistry, and the need for larger, well-controlled study to further investigate VR’s effectiveness must be pursued.