Efficacy of Virtual Reality in Reducing Injection Pain and Anxiety During Local Anesthesia in Children

Plovdiv Medical University40 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) device in reducing injection pain and anxiety associated with local anesthesia in pediatric dental patients. The clinical trial is a randomized split-mouth assignment. Included patients are 8-12 years old requiring local anesthetic infiltration with conventional syringe (CS) for conservative treatment of two primary maxillary molars bilaterally. Eligible patients undergo two single-visit treatments after CFSS-DS measurement before each, whereas VR is allocated to either first or second local anesthesia procedure. Primary outcome measure will be pain felt during injection, reported by patient on visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures: self-reported anxiety during injection on FIS; pain-related behavior according to FLACC scale; heart-rate dynamics; patient preference to local anesthesia method - CS or CS+VR.

Achieving local anesthesia in children is one of the critical aspects of pain management. A contemporary engaging form of distraction is represented by virtual reality devices. Virtual reality (VR) devices create a virtual environment of view and sound that allow patients to be immersed in an interactive, simulated world to distract them from pain. The VR devices have a wide viewing field and three-dimensional displays that project the images right in front of the user. They not only show potentially attractive audio-visual stimuli, but also exclude all other visual environmental stimuli that may affect the patient. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) device in reducing injection pain and anxiety associated with local anesthesia in pediatric dental patients. The device used in this study is Noon VR, FXGear, compatible with a mobile phone. The clinical trial is a randomized split-mouth assignment. Included patients are healthy positive children 8-12 years old requiring local anesthetic infiltration for conservative treatment of two primary maxillary molars bilaterally. Eligible patients undergo two single-visit treatments after measurement of dental fear prior to each according to the Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS). Local anesthetic is delivered through buccal infiltration with conventional syringe, where as the virtual reality distraction is allocated to either first or second local anesthesia procedure. Primary outcome measure will be pain felt during injection, reported by patient on visual analogue scale. Secondary outcome measures: self-reported anxiety during injection on Facial Image Scale; pain-related behavior according to Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale; heart-rate dynamics; patient preference to local anesthesia method - traditional infiltration or virtual reality device-assisted injection.

Interventions

Local anesthesia with conventional syringePROCEDURE

Buccal infiltration in posterior maxillary region with traditional technique. A 27 gauge short needle is inserted in the mucobuccal fold above the tooth to be anesthetized. Local anesthetic infiltration speed 1ml/min. Drug: Local anaesthetic - Ubistesin - 4% Articaine with adrenaline 1: 200 000 1.7 mL

Local anesthesia with conventional syringe + VR deviceDEVICE

Virtual reality device (Noon VR, Gear FX) is placed on the face of the patient, playing a video of soothing and peaceful natural landscapes. Buccal infiltration in posterior maxillary region with traditional technique. A 27 gauge short needle is inserted in the mucobuccal fold above the tooth to be anesthetized. Local anesthetic infiltration speed 1ml/min. Drug: Local anaesthetic - Ubistesin - 4% Articaine with adrenaline 1: 200 000 1.7 mL

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 8 YearsMax age: 12 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients, identified as positive or definitely positive through Frankl behavioral rating scale. * Children, requiring local anesthesia infiltration for conservative treatment of two primary upper jaw molars bilaterally. * Children without previous experience with local anesthesia for dental treatment. * Obtained informed consent from parents or gave-givers to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Children who are considered medically compromised or medically complex patients. The absence of disease is confirmed by anamnestic interview with a parent or a care-giver of the child and excludes general acute or chronic disease, cognitive impairment, psychogenic non-epileptic events, sensitivity to flashing light or motion. * Vision requiring correction with eyeglasses. * Recent injury to the eyes or face that prevents comfortable use of VR hardware or software. * Patients who are undergoing therapy with neurological, sedative, analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory drugs 7 days prior to treatment. * Patients with allergy to local anesthetics of the amide group. * Children, who are first time ever dental patients.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain felt during injection using visual analogue scale

Self-reported pain by the patient immediately after local anaesthesia infiltration using a VAS (visual analogue scale), containing a combination of Numeric Rating Scale (0-10, where 0 means no pain, 10 - worst possible pain) and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale, including pictures of facial expressions with correlating numbers of 0-10 (0 being 'no hurt' and 10 being 'hurts worst'). The combination allows children to pick a facial expression, that corresponds with their pain and see a number that matches it.

Time frame: Immediately after local anesthetic delivery

Secondary Outcomes

Pain-related behavior evaluated on the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Behavioral Pain Rating Scale

Evaluated by the outcomes assessor. The FLACC scale has five criteria - Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability, which are each assigned a score of 0, 1 or 2. Total score of scale is summed in range 0 to 10, where: 0=relaxed and comfortable; 1-3=mild discomfort; 4-6=moderate pain; 7-10=severe pain.

Time frame: During local anesthesia procedure

Self-reported anxiety during injection evaluated on FIS

The Facial Image Scale (FIS) comprises a row of five faces from very unhappy (score 5) to very happy (score 1).

Time frame: Immediately after local anesthetic delivery

Heart rate dynamics of the patient

Patient's left index finger is connected to a portable recording pulse oximeter for children.

Time frame: Start: in the waiting room, at least 5 minutes before local anaesthesia procedure. End: at least 5 minutes after treatment.

Assessment of self-reported dental fear on CFSS-DS questionnaire

Assessment will be performed prior to both visits.

Time frame: At least 5 minutes before local anesthesia

Patient preference to local anesthesia method

One week after the second dental visit, the patient is reached by a phone call and asked: "Which method do you prefer to put your tooth to sleep? With the virtual reality device or without it?"

Time frame: One week after second procedure