Comparing Brief Relaxation Period to Virtual Reality Period in Reducing Dental Anxiety Prior to Root Canal Treatment

Indiana University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dental Anxiety

Treatments: Other: Auditory Alone; Device: Relaxation Virtual Reality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05720897

IRB # 17053

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to evaluate non-drug approaches to reducing dental anxiety prior to non-surgical root canal treatment. This will be done by comparing two relaxation methods which will be performed immediately prior to scheduled, clinical non-surgical root canal treatment. Measures of anxiety will be evaluated prior to, and after, the relaxation intervention, as well as after the non-surgical root canal treatment is completed. Participation in the study is completed in a single study visit.

Full description

Fifty-eight participants who needed non-surgical root canal treatment were randomly assigned into 2 groups of ABR and VRR. One group received earphones to listen to a guided brief relaxation recording, focusing on a body scan of tense points with diaphragmatic breathing. The other group received Meta 2 virtual reality headsets to listen and watch a 360 inclusive and integrative experience of ambient music, high resolution graphic illustrations and immersive scenery. Participants self-reported levels of anxiety were assessed prior to and post treatment by conducting evaluations using the State Trait Anxiety Indicator (STAI-State & Trait) and the use of both a self-reported Visual Analog Scale (VAS) as well as by assessing objective secondary biometrics of anxiety of heart rate (HR) and Blood Pressure (BP) pre intervention, post intervention and following treatment completion.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• requires non-surgical root canal treatment
• is able to independently provide informed consent for root canal treatment
• proficient in English

Exclusion criteria

• history of vertigo or severe motion sickness
• history of severe psychiatric disease
• history of seizures, concussions, or severe neurological conditions
• visual or hearing impairments
• cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
• will require nitrous oxide sedation, nor pharmacologic anxiolytics or sedatives for dental treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Auditory Alone Brief Relaxation

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized to this arm will receive earphones to listen to a guided brief relaxation recording, focusing on breathing and a body scan, prior to their dental procedure.

Treatment:

Other: Auditory Alone

Relaxation Virtual Reality

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive virtual reality goggles and choose a scene of their liking to experience, prior to their dental procedure.

Treatment:

Device: Relaxation Virtual Reality