Effect of Therapeutic Play and Virtual Reality Glasses on Pain and Anxiety in Children

Ataturk University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dental Anxiety; Pain

Treatments: Device: Intervention 1: Therapeutic Play Group; Behavioral: Intervention 2: Virtual Reality Glasses Group; Other: control group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07375056

AU-ETHICS-2023-03-07

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: A child's first dental experience plays a crucial role in treatment success and in fostering cooperation during future visits. In pediatric dentistry, various non-pharmacological approaches have been implemented to prepare children for dental procedures. This study aims to evaluate the effects of two such approaches-therapeutic play and virtual reality glasses-designed to familiarize children with dental instruments, on pain perception and dental anxiety.

Methods: A total of 66 healthy children aged 6-9 years attending their first dental visit at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of Ataturk University will be included. Participants will be randomly assigned into three groups: one group will receive therapeutic play before local anesthesia; the second group will use virtual reality glasses before local anesthesia; and the control group will receive local anesthesia without any preparatory intervention. Dental anxiety and pain will be assessed using the Modified Children's Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS), the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBS), and the FLACC scale. Physiological parameters including heart rate and oxygen saturation will be recorded before and after anesthesia.

Full description

Children often experience dental anxiety during their first dental visit, particularly before local anesthesia. Non-pharmacological approaches such as therapeutic play and virtual reality distraction may help reduce anxiety and pain perception. This randomized controlled trial compared the effectiveness of therapeutic play and virtual reality glasses with routine care in reducing dental anxiety and pain in children aged 6-9 years. Anxiety was assessed using the Modified Children's Dental Anxiety Scale, pain was evaluated using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and FLACC scale, and physiological parameters were recorded.

Enrollment: 66 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 9 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 6 to 9 years
• Attending their first dental visit
• Participation voluntarily approved by both the child and the parent or legal guardian

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of acute dental pain
• Presence of systemic health problems
• Allergy to the modeling compound used in the playset
• Any visual or auditory impairment that could interfere with the use of virtual reality glasses

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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66 participants in 3 patient groups

Arm 1: Therapeutic Play Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Therapeutic play intervention before local anesthesia

Treatment:

Device: Intervention 1: Therapeutic Play Group

Arm 2: Virtual Reality Glasses Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Use of virtual reality glasses before local anesthesia

Treatment:

Behavioral: Intervention 2: Virtual Reality Glasses Group

Arm 3: Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Routine local anesthesia without preparatory intervention

Treatment:

Other: control group