Assessing the Effect of Virtual Reality Gamification on Anxiety and Pain Management During Extraction of MIH-affected Lower First Permanent Molars in Pediatric Patients

Assessing the Effect of Virtual Reality Gamification on Anxiety and Pain Management During Extraction of MIH-affected Lower First Permanent Molars in Pediatric Patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of gamified virtual reality in reducing anxiety and pain during the extraction of lower first molars with MIH under local anaesthesia.

Dental anxiety can be tiggered 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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Indication for the extraction of both lower first molars due MIH grade 4.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria for the study encompassed individuals with systemic disease, special needs, patients with a history of epileptic seizures or episodes of dizziness, as well as patients suffering from claustrophobia.