Impact of Virtual Reality Goggles as a Distraction Technique on the Pain Perception and Heart Rate of Pediatric Dental Patients

Authors

  • Hammad Hassan Science of Dental Materials, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Syeda Anita Hassan Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Abdul Razzaq Department of Oral Pathology, Avicenna Dental College Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Maheen Edrees de' Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Zenab Yaasir Science of Dental Materials, Akhter Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Asma Shakoor Community & Preventive Dentistry Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, NUMS, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36570/jduhs.2023.3.1949

Keywords:

Dentists, Pediatric Dentistry, Virtual Reality

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of virtual reality (VR) glasses on pain perception and heart rate during inferior
alveolar nerve block in pediatric patients.
Methods: This quasi-experimental investigation was conducted at a dental hospital (University College of
Dentistry), Lahore, Pakistan from June to February 2022. The study included healthy children aged four to twelve
years who needed dental treatment involving an inferior alveolar nerve block. The distraction was done using VR
glasses. Participants were arbitrarily divided into two groups, one with VR and the other without VR. The
patients' behavior was recorded during the nerve block using the face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability
(FLACC) behavioral pain assessment scale. The Pulse rate was monitored before, during, and after the procedure.
Results:Of the total 68 participants, the median age was 8 (7 – 9) years. There were 36 (52.9%) patients in the nonVR group and 32 (47.1%) patients in the VR group. The median FLAACC score was found to be significantly lower in
the VR group as compared to the non-VR group i.e., 1.0 (1.0 - 2.0) vs. 5.0 (4.0 - 5.0) (p-value <0.001) respectively.
Both groups showed significant median differences in face (p-value 0.008), legs (p-value <0.001), activity (p-value
<0.001), crying (p-value <0.001), and consolability (p-value <0.001) scores. During treatment, the heart rate of VR
participants was found to be significantly lower than the non-VR group i.e., 93.0 (90.0 – 96.0) vs. 100.0 (87.7 –
104.0) (p-value 0.044) respectively.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the use of VR goggles as a distraction method demonstrated a significant
reduction in pain perception and heart rate.

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Author Biographies

Syeda Anita Hassan, Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan.

BDS Graduate

Abdul Razzaq, Department of Oral Pathology, Avicenna Dental College Lahore, Pakistan.

Demonstrator, Department of Oral Pathology

Maheen Edrees, de' Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan.

BDS Graduate

Asma Shakoor, Community & Preventive Dentistry Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, NUMS, Pakistan.

Associate Professor, Community Dentistry

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Published

2023-11-22

How to Cite

Hammad Hassan, Syeda Anita Hassan, Razzaq, A., Edrees, M., Yaasir, Z., & Shakoor, A. (2023). Impact of Virtual Reality Goggles as a Distraction Technique on the Pain Perception and Heart Rate of Pediatric Dental Patients. Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (JDUHS), 17(3). https://doi.org/10.36570/jduhs.2023.3.1949

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