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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06698562

Virtual Reality and Laser Biostimulation on Pain Perception and Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety in children can prevent planned treatment from being carried out, negatively affect the child's relationship with the dentist and make the treatment process difficult. The most common sources of directly anticipated anxiety are known to be associated with pain. Painful experiences are anxiety-provoking for people of all ages, especially children.This study aims to evaluate the effect of virtual reality glassess (VR) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on dental anxiety and pain perception during local anaesthesia administration in paediatric patients.

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Key information

Age range

6 year–10 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Altinbas University Faculty of Dentistry

Istanbul, Marmara, 34147, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study aims to investigate the combined effects of virtual reality glassess (VR) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on dental anxiety and pain perception in paediatric patients undergoing local anaesthesia for dental procedures. Dental anxiety is a common issue in children, often leading to increased pain perception and poor cooperation during treatment. Virtual reality has been proposed as a distraction technique, while LLLT is believed to reduce pain and inflammation. By exploring the effectiveness of these two interventions, the study seeks to determine whether VR and LLLT can serve as effective adjuncts to improve patient comfort, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall treatment experience during the administration of local anaesthesia

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • No history of systemic disease or infectious disease
  • Compliant with the dental treatments to be performed in the Children's Dental Hospital and able to answer the questions asked
  • Exhibiting 'positive' and 'absolutely positive' behaviours during the examination, compliant according to the Frankl scale,
  • Children with no previous experience of dental treatment with local anaesthesia

Exclusion criteria

  • Children with any systemic condition
  • Mentally and physically disabled, unable to co-operate,
  • Children allergic to local anaesthesia,
  • Previous dental treatment experience with local anaesthesia
  • Exhibiting "negative" and "strongly negative" behaviour according to the Frankl scale
  • Children with eye diseases such as myopia and astigmatism

Treatment and study plan

Distraction with Virtual reality glassess

Other

the injection site was dried with a cotton pellet and placebo topical anaesthesia was applied with a pre-sterilised wooden ear stick in a circular motion followed by laser biostimulation. The Wiser diode laser (Doctor Smile, Vicenza, Italy), a diode laser device with a wavelength of 980 nm and equipped with a 600 μm diameter fibre, was used to deliver low-level laser therapy to the area of interest. The tip of the laser carrier system was placed at a distance of 1 cm from the target tissue without contact and applied with continuous circular movements as recommended by the manufacturer. A silicone piece was placed on the end of the carrier system to ensure that the distance to the tissue remained constant in each application. The focal spot area was determined as 0.087 cm2. The power of the laser used in our study was determined as 0.3 W and the application time was selected as 60 seconds. The patient and the physician wore protective goggles during the whole procedure to prevent possi

Distraction with Virtual reality glassess + LLLT

Other

The injection area was dried with a cotton pellet before injection. A topical anaesthetic gel containing 20% benzocaine (Vision pat gel) was applied to the mucosal tissues to be injected using a pre-sterilised ear stick. After the application of the topical anaesthetic agent, the laser device was positioned in the same way, but without applying energy, and the sound of the laser device was pre-recorded and the study was blinded. In this way, a placebo effect was created and the patient was prevented from distinguishing between the laser and non-laser session. After this procedure, local anaesthesia was applied.

Tell Show Do Group + LLLT

Other

The injection site was dried with a cotton pellet and placebo topical anaesthesia was applied with a pre-sterilised wooden ear stick in a circular motion followed by laser biostimulation. The Wiser diode laser (Doctor Smile, Vicenza, Italy), a diode laser device with a wavelength of 980 nm and equipped with a 600 μm diameter fibre, was used to deliver low-level laser therapy to the area of interest. The tip of the laser carrier system was placed at a distance of 1 cm from the target tissue without contact and applied with continuous circular movements as recommended by the manufacturer. A silicone piece was placed on the end of the carrier system to ensure that the distance to the tissue remained constant in each application. The focal spot area was determined as 0.087 cm2. The power of the laser used in our study was determined as 0.3 W and the application time was selected as 60 seconds. During the whole procedure, the patient wore virtual glasses and the physician wore protective go

Tell Show Do Group

Other

In this session, the injection area was dried with a cotton pellet before injection. A topical anaesthetic gel containing 20% benzocaine (Vision pat gel) was applied to the mucosal tissues to be injected using a pre-sterilised ear stick. After the application of the topical anaesthetic agent, the laser device was positioned in the same way, but without applying energy, and the sound of the laser device was pre-recorded and the study was blinded. In this way, a placebo effect was created and the patient was prevented from distinguishing between the laser and non-laser session. After this procedure, local anaesthesia was applied.

Other names: Group IIb

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain perception

    Time frame: Right before and immediately after treatment

    In this study, each patient received both topical anaesthesia and DSLT treatment using a split-mouth design.Pain perception was measured by Wong and Baker scale. In this scale there are 6 different facial expressions ranging from very happy to very unhappy to express the level of pain.The scale includes six faces, each illustrating a different level of pain intensity:

    0 (No Pain), 1 (Very Mild Pain), 2 (Mild Pain), 3 (Moderate Pain), 4 (Severe Pain) 5 (Very Very Severe Pain). The Wong Baker facial expression pain scale was evaluated right before and immediately after the application of local anesthesia by an observer physician other than the physician administering local anesthesia. The pictures on this scale were introduced to the patient in an appropriate language. Right before and immediately after local anesthetic injection, the picture chosen by the patient was recorded on the scale.

  2. Dental Anxiety

    Time frame: Right before and immediately after treatment

    Dental anxiety levels of the children were physiologically evaluated using the 'Venham Picture Test'. The picture chosen by the patient was recorded on the scale. The Venham Picture Test was assessed right before and immediately after local anaesthetic injection by an observer clinician other than the clinician administering the local anesthesia. The children were shown 8 pairs of pictures of boys (one "anxious" picture and one "non-anxious" picture), each drawn in a contrasting mood, and were asked to choose the picture on each card that corresponded to their feelings. A score of 1 was given if the child chose the "anxious" picture and 0 if the child chose the "non-anxious" picture. To determine the total score, the number of "anxious" pictures was summed (lowest score 0, highest score 8).

  3. Pain perception

    Time frame: During local anesthesia application

    The "Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC)" pain assessment scale was also evaluated during local anesthesia application by an observer clinician other than the clinician to whom local anesthesia would be applied. The patient's reactions were evaluated by observation by the researcher. Pain values were determined between 0-2 for each parameter and 0-10 for the total scale score. According to the scale, the total score was evaluated as follows: 0: No pain, 1-3: Mild pain, 4-6: Moderate pain and discomfort, 7-10: Severe pain and discomfort.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dental Anxiety

    Time frame: Right before, during and immediately after the application of local anesthesia

    Pulse rate and oxygen saturation values were measured with a pulse oximetry device. The measurement was started by attaching the finger apparatus of the device to the index finger of the left hand of the patients. Then, the pulse and SpO2 values right before, during and immediately after the application of local anesthesia were recorded. At the end of the session, these values were averaged and recorded in the case report form.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

SIRIN GUNER ONUR

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Virtual Reality and Laser Biostimulation on Pain Perception and Dental Anxiety in Children

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Nov 21, 2024
Registry last updated
Nov 21, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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