Role of Virtual Reality in Pain Perception of Patients Following the Administration of Local Anesthesia

Overview

Journal Ann Maxillofac Surg

Date 2019 Jul 12

PMID 31293937

Citations 17

Authors

V R Sweta

R P Abhinav

Asha Ramesh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Dental anxiety and anxiety-related avoidance of dental care creates significant problems for the patients and dental practitioners. Administration of local anesthesia is one of the procedures which results in increased anxiety level among patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to study the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a distraction tool during the administration of local anesthesia in patients undergoing a dental procedure.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients were randomized into two groups, namely, control group ( = 25) and study group ( = 25). Preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative pulse rate and oxygen saturation were measured using pulse oximeter for all the patients. Local anesthesia was administered without the use of VR for the control group and with the VR for the study group.

Statistical Analysis: The data were evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20. Student's -test was used to compare the variables.

Results: Statistically significant results were obtained for preoperative and postoperative oxygen saturation, intraoperative pulse rate, and postoperative visual analog scale pain scale.

Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that immersive VR is an effective distraction tool to alleviate the anxiety of the patient.

Citing Articles

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Virtual Reality for Reducing Anxiety in Pediatric Endoscopy.

Bulduk M, Can V, Aktas E, Ipekci B, Bulduk B, Nas I J Clin Med. 2025; 14(4).

PMID: 40004873 PMC: 11856172. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14041344.

Current applications and future perspective of virtual reality in dental education and practice in Saudi Arabia: A scoping review.

Alqutaibi A, Hamadallah H, Oqbi H, Almuzaini S, Borzangy S Saudi Dent J. 2024; 36(11):1406-1416.

PMID: 39619710 PMC: 11605729. DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.09.007.

The effectiveness of extended reality on relieving pain after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Su S, Wang R, Chen Z, Zhou F, Zhang Y Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024; 144(7):3217-3226.

PMID: 38960934 DOI: 10.1007/s00402-024-05440-0.

Using virtual reality to manage pain and anxiety during dental treatments in patients with stroke: A case series.

Tesfaye E, Garito I, Lewis-Fung S, Calabia D, Schlosser R, Appel L SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2024; 12:2050313X241249910.

PMID: 38694905 PMC: 11062225. DOI: 10.1177/2050313X241249910.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Postoperative Pain, Disability and Range of Movement after Knee Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Esteban-Sopena J, Beltran-Alacreu H, Terradas-Monllor M, Avendano-Coy J, Garcia-Magro N Life (Basel). 2024; 14(3).

PMID: 38541615 PMC: 10970833. DOI: 10.3390/life14030289.

References

McCaul K, Monson N, Maki R . Does distraction reduce pain-produced distress among college students?. Health Psychol. 1992; 11(4):210-7. DOI: 10.1037//0278-6133.11.4.210. View

Hakeberg M, Berggren U, Carlsson S . Prevalence of dental anxiety in an adult population in a major urban area in Sweden. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1992; 20(2):97-101. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1992.tb00686.x. View

Armfield J, Stewart J, John Spencer A . The vicious cycle of dental fear: exploring the interplay between oral health, service utilization and dental fear. BMC Oral Health. 2007; 7:1. PMC: 1784087. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6831-7-1. View

Hoffman H, Patterson D, Seibel E, Soltani M, Jewett-Leahy L, Sharar S . Virtual reality pain control during burn wound debridement in the hydrotank. Clin J Pain. 2008; 24(4):299-304. DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e318164d2cc. View

da Conceicao D, Schonhorst L, da Conceicao M, de Oliveira Filho G . [Heart rate and blood pressure are not good parameters to evaluate preoperative anxiety.]. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2009; 54(6):769-73. DOI: 10.1590/s0034-70942004000600003. View

Locker D, Liddell A . Correlates of dental anxiety among older adults. J Dent Res. 1991; 70(3):198-203. DOI: 10.1177/00220345910700030801. View

Sarig-Bahat H, Weiss P, Laufer Y . Neck pain assessment in a virtual environment. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010; 35(4):E105-12. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b79358. View

Sato K, Fukumori S, Matsusaki T, Maruo T, Ishikawa S, Nishie H . Nonimmersive virtual reality mirror visual feedback therapy and its application for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: an open-label pilot study. Pain Med. 2010; 11(4):622-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2010.00819.x. View

Stouthard M, Hoogstraten J . Prevalence of dental anxiety in The Netherlands. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1990; 18(3):139-42. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1990.tb00039.x. View

10.

Neverlien P . Normative data for Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) for the Norwegian adult population. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1990; 18(3):162. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1990.tb00045.x. View

11.

Tanja-Dijkstra K, Pahl S, White M, Andrade J, Qian C, Bruce M . Improving dental experiences by using virtual reality distraction: a simulation study. PLoS One. 2014; 9(3):e91276. PMC: 3951355. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091276. View

12.

Agras S, Sylvester D, Oliveau D . The epidemiology of common fears and phobia. Compr Psychiatry. 1969; 10(2):151-6. DOI: 10.1016/0010-440x(69)90022-4. View

13.

ter Horst G, de Wit C . Review of behavioural research in dentistry 1987-1992: dental anxiety, dentist-patient relationship, compliance and dental attendance. Int Dent J. 1993; 43(3 Suppl 1):265-78. View

14.

Moerman N, van Dam F, Muller M, OOSTING H . The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Anesth Analg. 1996; 82(3):445-51. DOI: 10.1097/00000539-199603000-00002. View