Managing Dentophobia in the Digital Age: The Role of Internet Addiction and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy.

Background: Dentophobia, a significant barrier to dental healthcare, may be influenced by an increased dependency on digital technology and internet addiction, particularly among younger populations. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) compared to traditional methods in managing dentophobia, particularly among individuals exhibiting high levels of internet dependency.

Methods: A comparative study involving two groups, each consisting of 50 young adults aged 18-30 years, diagnosed with dentophobia, was conducted. Group A participants, who exhibited high familiarity and borderline addictive behavior towards digital technologies, received VRET using VR-BOX glasses across four specific dental scenarios: dental chair positioning, oral examination, anesthesia administration, and dental drilling procedures. Group B received traditional "tell-show-do" management without VR assistance. Anxiety levels were evaluated using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) before and after interventions and at follow-up intervals of one week, three months, and six months.

Results: Both groups showed significant reductions in anxiety scores across all follow-up periods. Mild to phobic anxiety scores demonstrated no significant differences between VRET and traditional method groups. The average MDAS scores post-intervention were similar, indicating comparable effectiveness between both treatment modalities.

Conclusions: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy effectively reduces dentophobia among young adults, particularly those with significant internet dependency. Although VRET's effectiveness was similar to conventional methods, it holds considerable promise for improving treatment adherence and comfort among digitally dependent individuals.