Leezallini Selvaraj, Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof, Nor Nadia Zakaria, Nurul Zeety Azizi, Noorhidayah Zainal Aalam
{"title":"Effects of Preoperative Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial.","authors":"Leezallini Selvaraj, Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof, Nor Nadia Zakaria, Nurul Zeety Azizi, Noorhidayah Zainal Aalam","doi":"10.1111/ipd.70066","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preoperative familiarisation using virtual reality (VR) devices before dental treatment is an innovative strategy to manage dental anxiety in children.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative immersive and non-immersive VR exposure in children with dental anxiety and its correlation with physiological response.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A total of 66 children aged 9-12 years with dental anxiety were randomised into immersive VR exposure (IVRE), non-immersive VR exposure (NIVRE), and control groups. Before receiving a fissure sealant on one permanent molar, IVRE participants navigated a virtual dental clinic, NIVRE participants viewed dental-themed cartoons, and controls waited as usual. Pre- and post-intervention anxiety (Malay-MCDAS<sub>f</sub>) and pulse rate were analysed using ANOVA, paired t-tests, and Pearson's correlation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 66 participants, two dropped out. IVRE and NIVRE significantly reduced dental anxiety compared to control (IVRE vs. Control: p = 0.008; NIVRE vs. Control: p = 0.009), with large effect sizes. No significant differences in PR reductions between groups (p = 0.052, d = 0.09), indicating a small clinical effect. A significant postoperative correlation existed between Malay-MCDAS<sub>f</sub> and PR (r = 0.285, p = 0.022).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>VR reduced children's preoperative dental anxiety but did not significantly affect pulse rate. The correlation between self-reported anxiety and physiological response highlights VR's potential as an adjunct in paediatric anxiety management (197 words).</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05854329; National Medical Research Register: NMRR ID-23-01114-ATC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14268,"journal":{"name":"International journal of paediatric dentistry","volume":" ","pages":"431-439"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International journal of paediatric dentistry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.70066","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/12/22 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Preoperative familiarisation using virtual reality (VR) devices before dental treatment is an innovative strategy to manage dental anxiety in children.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative immersive and non-immersive VR exposure in children with dental anxiety and its correlation with physiological response.
Design: A total of 66 children aged 9-12 years with dental anxiety were randomised into immersive VR exposure (IVRE), non-immersive VR exposure (NIVRE), and control groups. Before receiving a fissure sealant on one permanent molar, IVRE participants navigated a virtual dental clinic, NIVRE participants viewed dental-themed cartoons, and controls waited as usual. Pre- and post-intervention anxiety (Malay-MCDASf) and pulse rate were analysed using ANOVA, paired t-tests, and Pearson's correlation.
Results: Of 66 participants, two dropped out. IVRE and NIVRE significantly reduced dental anxiety compared to control (IVRE vs. Control: p = 0.008; NIVRE vs. Control: p = 0.009), with large effect sizes. No significant differences in PR reductions between groups (p = 0.052, d = 0.09), indicating a small clinical effect. A significant postoperative correlation existed between Malay-MCDASf and PR (r = 0.285, p = 0.022).
Conclusion: VR reduced children's preoperative dental anxiety but did not significantly affect pulse rate. The correlation between self-reported anxiety and physiological response highlights VR's potential as an adjunct in paediatric anxiety management (197 words).
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05854329; National Medical Research Register: NMRR ID-23-01114-ATC.
背景：在牙科治疗前使用虚拟现实（VR）设备进行术前熟悉是一种管理儿童牙科焦虑的创新策略。目的：评价术前沉浸式和非沉浸式VR暴露对牙科焦虑患儿的治疗效果及其与生理反应的相关性。设计：66名9-12岁患有牙科焦虑症的儿童随机分为沉浸式虚拟现实暴露组（IVRE）、非沉浸式虚拟现实暴露组（NIVRE）和对照组。在接受恒磨牙缝密封剂之前，IVRE参与者浏览了一个虚拟牙科诊所，NIVRE参与者观看了牙科主题漫画，对照组则像往常一样等待。采用方差分析、配对t检验和Pearson相关分析干预前和干预后的焦虑（malaysia - mcdasf）和脉搏率。结果：66名参与者中，2人退出。与对照组相比，IVRE和NIVRE显著降低了牙齿焦虑（IVRE vs. control: p = 0.008; NIVRE vs. control: p = 0.009），效应量很大。两组间PR降低无显著差异（p = 0.052, d = 0.09），提示临床效果较小。术后mal - mcdasf与PR存在显著相关性（r = 0.285, p = 0.022）。结论：虚拟现实降低了儿童术前牙科焦虑，但对脉搏率无明显影响。自我报告的焦虑和生理反应之间的相关性突出了VR作为儿科焦虑管理辅助手段的潜力。试验注册：ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：NCT05854329；国家医学研究注册：NMRR ID-23-01114-ATC。
期刊介绍：
The International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry was formed in 1991 by the merger of the Journals of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and is published bi-monthly. It has true international scope and aims to promote the highest standard of education, practice and research in paediatric dentistry world-wide.
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry publishes papers on all aspects of paediatric dentistry including: growth and development, behaviour management, diagnosis, prevention, restorative treatment and issue relating to medically compromised children or those with disabilities. This peer-reviewed journal features scientific articles, reviews, case reports, clinical techniques, short communications and abstracts of current paediatric dental research. Analytical studies with a scientific novelty value are preferred to descriptive studies. Case reports illustrating unusual conditions and clinically relevant observations are acceptable but must be of sufficiently high quality to be considered for publication; particularly the illustrative material must be of the highest quality.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
