The Use of Virtual Reality Glasses to Reduce Anxiety in Fixed Orthodontic Treatments in Children Aged 10-15 Years

Overview

This study aims to manage anxiety and fear experienced by young patients during orthodontic treatments through the use of virtual reality glasses, ensuring a more comfortable procedural experience. The study included twenty-six patients who visited the faculty of dentistry. Thirteen patients in the study group were shown animation through virtual reality glasses during the procedure. The 13 patients in the control group underwent standard treatment procedures without virtual reality glasses. Both groups were asked questions from the CASI and Trait Anxiety Inventory at the beginning of the procedure, State Anxiety Inventory at the beginning and at the end of the procedure, and pulse rate, saturation and VAS values were recorded. The implementation of virtual reality glasses in orthodontic treatments has been shown to effectively manage anxiety by distracting patients from what is actually happening. This study shows that virtual reality goggles reduce the anxiety experienced by patients during orthodontic treatment. These results offer a different treatment process that can increase treatment comfort in clinical practice.

Orthodontic treatments are treatments that have less knowledge and experience among patients compared to other dental procedures, and therefore have a more uncertain process for patients. The tools and materials used in orthodontic treatments also differ from the materials that patients are familiar with using in other dental procedures. Patients aged 10-15 years were identified as an age group in which fixed orthodontic treatment could be started for the age range of our study group, who had less experience in dental treatments compared to adults, and therefore the level of anxiety was mostly higher. In addition, it has been observed that the bracket placement session, which is the first session of fixed orthodontic treatment, is longer than the sessions in which other orthodontic procedures are performed, and during this period, patients in the age group we have chosen tend to question the remaining time and want to check their mobile phones, and it is believed that virtual reality (VR) glasses can be utilized to enhance the comfort of the procedure.