Assessing the effect of virtual reality gamification on anxiety and pain management during extraction of MIH-affected lower first permanent molars in pediatric patients

Abstract

Dental anxiety can be triggered by previous negative experiences, fear of pain, or loss of control, leading to avoidance of dental treatments and worsening oral health. To alleviate anxiety, various pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures are applied, including distraction as a cognitive-behavioral approach. One innovative method of distraction is gamification, which involves the use of Virtual Reality (VR) to redirect patients’ focus to something relaxing instead of the treatment itself. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of gamified virtual reality in reducing anxiety and pain during the extraction of molar-incisal hypomineralization (MIH) affected lower first molars under local anaesthesia. In prospective study, gamified virtual reality was applied during the extraction of lower first molars in 56 subjects using the split-mouth method. Through VR goggles, patients were immersed in a virtual video game world to distract them from the dental procedure. The results showed a significant reduction in pain levels during anaesthesia and tooth extraction in subjects using VR. Additionally, these patients had lower heart rate values during the intervention compared to the standard procedure. Most subjects expressed satisfaction with the VR experience, stating that VR technology helped alleviate their fear of the procedure and diverted their thoughts from the treatment itself. This research highlights the potential of gamified virtual reality in reducing anxiety and improving patient experience during the extraction of of MIH affected lower first molars.