Assessing the Effect of Virtual Reality Gamification on Anxiety and Pain Management During Extraction of MIH-affected Lower First Permanent Molars in Pediatric Patients (VRGAMIFICATION)

Rasa Mladenovic

Status: Completed

Conditions: Tooth Extraction; Gamification; Distraction; Virtual Reality

Treatments: Procedure: Extraction tooth

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06964451

01-14788/2022

Ethics Committee (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of gamified virtual reality in reducing anxiety and pain during the extraction of lower first molars with MIH under local anaesthesia.

Full description

Dental anxiety can be tiggered by previous negative experiences, fear of pain, or loss of control, leading to avoidance of dental treatments and worsening oral health. To alleviate anxiety, various pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures are applied, including distraction as a cognitive-behavioral approach. One innovative method of distraction is gamification, which involves the use of Virtual Reality (VR) to redirect patients' focus to something relaxing instead of the treatment itself. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of gamified virtual reality in reducing anxiety and pain during the extraction of molar-incisal hypomineralization (MIH) affected lower first molars under local anaesthesia. In prospective study, gamified virtual reality was applied during the extraction of lower first molars in 56 subjects using the split-mouth method. Through VR goggles, patients were immersed in a virtual video game world to distract them from the dental procedure.

Enrollment: 56 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 10 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Indication for the extraction of both lower first molars due MIH grade 4.

Exclusion criteria

• Exclusion criteria for the study encompassed individuals with systemic disease, special needs, patients with a history of epileptic seizures or episodes of dizziness, as well as patients suffering from claustrophobia.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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56 participants in 2 patient groups

NON VR

Active Comparator group

Description:

In the extraction of one tooth, the procedure was performed according to the standard protocol (Non VR Phase).

Treatment:

Procedure: Extraction tooth

VR

Active Comparator group

Description:

For the tooth on the opposite side, the entire extraction procedure (including the application of local anesthesia) was conducted using a gamification model with VR goggles (VR Gamification Phase)

Treatment:

Procedure: Extraction tooth