Comparative evaluation of the effect of audio and virtual reality distraction on the dental anxiety of healthy and mild intellectually disabled children

• প্রধান লেখক: Deepshikha Mehrotra (Author), R Manju (Author)
• বিন্যাস: গ্রন্থ
• প্রকাশিত: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• বিষয়গুলি: article
• অনলাইন ব্যবহার করুন: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0970-4388; 1998-3905; 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_45_23
• Keywords: behavior modification; dental anxiety; intellectual disability; virtual reality; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Vol 41, Iss 1, Pp 43-50 (2023)

Context: Dental environment is one of the most anxiety-provoking stimuli for children, which makes patient management a constant challenge in both typically growing and intellectually disabled children. Distraction is a nonpharmacological technique to manage anxiety in children during dental treatment. Aim: This study compares the effect of audio and virtual reality (VR) distraction on the dental anxiety of healthy and mild intellectually disabled children. Methods: Forty children aged 6-14 years were divided into two groups (Group I: children with mild intellectual disability and Group II: healthy children). Groups I and II were further subdivided into two subgroups of 10 children each, based on the distraction technique given to them during the first appointment. After 1 month, we carried out a cross-over of the subgroups. Anxiety levels were measured using physiological and observational parameters at three-time intervals. Statistical Analysis: Performed using paired t-test for the intergroup comparison and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test for the intra-group comparison. Results: A decrease in the pulse rate, improvement in oxygen saturation levels, and lower Venham's anxiety rating scores were observed on introducing audio and VR distraction in all the subgroups. The inter-group comparison revealed that audio and VR were more effective in healthy children than children with mild intellectual disabilities. Conclusions: Audio and VR distraction techniques can be employed successfully to reduce anxiety in children with mild intellectual disability and healthy children undergoing dental restorative treatment.