Virtual Reality Relaxation to Decrease Dental Anxiety: Immediate Effect Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION

Dental anxiety is common and causes symptomatic use of oral health services.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to study if a short-term virtual reality intervention reduced preoperative dental anxiety.

METHODS

A randomized controlled single-center trial was conducted with 2 parallel arms in a public oral health care unit: virtual reality relaxation (VRR) and treatment as usual (TAU). The VRR group received a 1- to 3.5-min 360° immersion video of a peaceful virtual landscape with audio features and sound supporting the experience. TAU groups remained seated for 3 min. Of the powered sample of 280 participants, 255 consented and had complete data. Total and secondary sex-specific mixed effects linear regression models were completed for posttest dental anxiety (Modified Dental Anxiety Scale [MDAS] total score) and its 2 factors (anticipatory and treatment-related dental anxiety) adjusted for baseline (pretest) MDAS total and factor scores and age, taking into account the effect of blocking.

RESULTS

Total and anticipatory dental anxiety decreased more in the VRR group than the TAU group (β = -0.75, P < .001, for MDAS total score; β = -0.43, P < .001, for anticipatory anxiety score) in patients of a primary dental care clinic. In women, dental anxiety decreased more in VRR than TAU for total MDAS score (β = -1.08, P < .001) and treatment-related dental anxiety (β = -0.597, P = .011). Anticipatory dental anxiety decreased more in VRR than TAU in both men (β = -0.217, P < .026) and women (β = -0.498, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Short application of VRR is both feasible and effective to reduce preoperative dental anxiety in public dental care settings (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03993080).

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

Dental anxiety, which is a common problem, can be reduced with short application of virtual reality relaxation applied preoperatively in the waiting room. Findings of this study indicate that it is a feasible and effective procedure to help patients with dental anxiety in normal public dental care settings.