Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Glasses in Reducing Anxiety in Children and Dentists' Operative Time for Pediatric Dental Procedures: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effects of audiovisual distraction using virtual reality glasses during inferior alveolar nerve block in pediatric dental patients. This clinical trial randomly included 20 participants aged 4 to 11 years from a pediatric dentistry clinic to receive anesthesia with or without VR glasses. Behavioral assessments were conducted using the Frankl scale, FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale, and Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (PRS). Anesthesia administration time was recorded. The results were compared by Wilcoxon test, and Cohen’s dRepeated Measures, pooled  (CdRMp) estimated the effect size. Three children were excluded due to device rejection. In the Frankl scale assessment, children achieved better behavior scores in the session with VR glasses (CdRMp = 0.20; p = 0.031). Children reported significantly less pain when using VR glasses according to the PRS scale (CdRMp = -0.73; p = 0.016). Additionally, the time required for anesthesia administration was significantly shorter with VR glasses  (CdRMp = -1.20; p <0.001). The results suggest that virtual reality glasses are a valuable tool for audiovisual distraction in pediatric dentistry, effectively reducing anxiety, fear, and the time required for anesthesia administration during dental treatment.