title: The Impact of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain and Anxiety during Dental Treatment in 4-6 Year-Old Children: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dental practitioners have numerous methods to control anxiety and pain in children, and distracting the child appears to be the most common technique used for behavior management during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of using virtual reality eyeglasses on severity of pain and anxiety during dental procedures in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 120 healthy children aged 4-6 years. Children with no previous anxiety disorder were randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 60 children. The study consisted of 3 consecutive treatment sessions. During the first visit fluoride therapy was carried out in both groups. In the next sessions, the groups received restorative treatment with and without virtual reality eyeglasses in a randomized single-blind-controlled crossover fashion. Then at the end of each session the subjects' pain severity was assessed using Wong Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and state anxiety was measured by Faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale [MCDAS (f)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in pain perception (P < 0.001) and state anxiety scores (P < 0.001) with the use of virtual reality eyeglasses during dental treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study showed that virtual reality eyeglasses can successfully decrease pain perception and state anxiety during dental treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  201103126036N1.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asl Aminabadi
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erfanparast
authors.forename: Azin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sohrabi
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghertasi Oskouei
authors.forename: Armaghan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naghili
keywords: Anxiety; dental treatment; distraction; pain; virtual reality