Evaluation of Effect of Distraction Techniques Using Virtual Reality and Eight-dimension Audio Analgesia Methods on Pain Perception and Anxiety Levels in Children During Restorative Procedures: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION

Dental pain and dental anxiety are the most common determinants of negative dental experience, the reason for broken appointments and ignored oral health care affecting the quality of life.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of distraction techniques using virtual reality and eight-dimension (8D) audio analgesia method on pain perception and anxiety levels in children during restorative procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 120 children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old who visited for the first time to a pediatric dental department were grouped equally between three interventional groups. Group I was treated with conventional tell-show-do (TSD) method; patients selected for group II (8D audio analgesia) and group III (virtual reality method) underwent two-step procedure that initially involved the TSD technique, by explaining the distraction techniques method conditioned for restoration treatment. Clinical evaluation of anxiety levels was measured by using the Chotta Bheem-Chutki (CBC), face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) scale, and recording pulse and oxygen saturation rate. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test was done to compare all the parameters between the three groups.

RESULTS

In comparison to the conventional TSD method, both 8D audio analgesia and virtual reality method showed statistically better results. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test showed no significant difference between the virtual reality group and 8D audio analgesic group.

CONCLUSION

Both 8D audio analgesia and virtual reality box distraction techniques can be used as an efficient distraction technique for TSD during dental procedures in children.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Karuppiah M, Balamurugan SR, Rajashekaran S, Evaluation of Effect of Distraction Techniques Using Virtual Reality and Eight-dimension Audio Analgesia Methods on Pain Perception and Anxiety Levels in Children During Restorative Procedures: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(10):1087-1092.