Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Technique on Children

Procedural pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale to measure children's self-reported pain, It's a self-reported scale with six cartoon faces representing increasing levels of pain, scored from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). Children were asked to point to the face that best described their pain.

Higher scores on either scale indicated greater pain intensity.

Anxiety was assessed using the Venham Picture Test (VPT), a self-reported measure of dental anxiety in children. The scale consists of 8 pairs of drawings, with the child selecting the picture that best reflects their feelings at each pair. Scores range from 0 to 8, where 0 indicates no anxiety and 8 indicates the highest level of anxiety. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety.

Pulse rate was measured using a pulse oximeter and recorded in beats per minute (bpm). Readings were recorded at predefined intervals. Increases in heart rate indicated heightened stress or discomfort during the procedure.

Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was measured using a pulse oximeter and recorded as percentage of oxygen saturation (%). Readings were recorded at predefined intervals. Decreases in SpO2 indicated heightened stress or discomfort during the procedure

Blood pressure was measured using an automated blood pressure monitor and recorded as systolic and diastolic blood pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Higher values indicate higher blood pressure. Changes from baseline were used to assess the physiological response to the dental procedure.

Patient satisfaction was assessed using a structured questionnaire with two yes/no questions:

• Are you satisfied with the experience? (Yes/No)
• Would you like to have the same technique in future visits? (Yes/No) Responses were coded as binary outcomes (Yes = 1, No = 0). Higher total scores indicated greater patient satisfaction.