Assessment of the Impact of Virtual Reality on Patient Anxiety During Dental Avulsions Under Local Anesthesia

The virtual reality experience consisted of putting on a headset with music and a 3D helmet on the eyes that broadcast a landscape in motion (a walk).

The inclusion took place in the University Hospital of Caen between november 2021 and may 2022.

119 patients were randomized into two groups, one with VR and another one without VR. At the end, 105 patients were analyzed.

The main objective was to find a reduction in the STAI-YA score of more than 8 points between before and during the intervention. This analysis was performed in both groups.

During the initial consultation, questions were asked about the medical file and informed consent was sought. Patients were then randomised to one of two groups.

During the second consultation, a STAI-YA questionnaire and a VAS scale were completed, then the intervention was performed with or without virtual reality, depending on the group, and the STAI-YA questionnaire and the VAS scale were again completed by recalling the stress experienced during the surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults (> 18 years old) coming for at least two dental extractions under local anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

• patients suffering of motion sickness,
• claustrophobia,
• uncontrolled epilepsy,
• visual impairment,
• hearing disability,
• non-French speakers,
• pregnant women,
• protected adults
• people followed by a psychiatrist whether for depression, bipolarity, schizophrenia
• The day of the intervention, patients who had consumed anxiolytics