Feasibility of Virtual Reality Environments Use in Reduction of Dental Anxiety during Treatment

Abstract

Dental procedural pain and anxiety present a significant challenge for a substantial proportion of the population, often resulting in reduced frequency of dental care. This issue affects both patients and dentists, with the latter frequently encountering patient resistance during treatment. This study investigates the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) as a method of distraction for dental patients, using subjective and objective measures to assess the impact of a VR system on patient reported anxiety levels and physiological factors. A clinical trial was conducted, enrolling 37 patients who were divided into two groups: an experimental group of 26 patients and a control group of 11 patients. The results of this study are encouraging, indicating that VR is effective in shielding the patient from distracting stimuli in the treatment environment.