Yoshio Yamashita1, Daiji Shimohira2, Reona Aijima2, Kesuke Mori2, Atsushi Danjo3. 1. Professor and Chief, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. Electronic address: yamashy2@cc.saga-u.ac.jp. 2. Research Associate, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. 3. Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Many patients undergoing dental treatment have experienced pain associated with the treatment and become anxious and/or fearful of treatment. Anxiety and fear have conventionally been managed with the use of inhalation anesthesia or tranquilizers. However, their physical effects must also be considered, and they will not be suitable for all patients. The purpose of the present study was to assess the clinical effect of virtual reality (VR) to relieve anxiety during impacted mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used VR to alleviate anxiety concerning surgical treatment for 51 patients undergoing impacted mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia. Fear and anxiety before and after treatment were evaluated by a questionnaire that included a visual analog scale (VAS). The post-treatment questionnaire asked patients to evaluate their satisfaction on a 5-level Likert scale. Heart rate variability (HRV) was also analyzed in the VR group using acceleration plethysmography. RESULTS: Anxiety had decreased among the patients who had used VR (VR group), with a difference of -13.3 ± 28.7 mm in anxiety measured using a VAS before and during treatment. In contrast, it had increased by 4.0 ± 22.3 mm in the 49 patients who had not used VR. Furthermore, the post-treatment questionnaire administered to the VR group revealed that 92% had reported that their anxiety had decreased. Objective evaluation by HRV measurement also showed a sympathetic nerve-predominant state before treatment. However, with VR use during treatment, parasympathetic nervous activity was predominant, with a stable balance between the 2. No patient showed symptoms suggestive of cybersickness. CONCLUSIONS: These results have shown that the use of VR could be valuable during dental treatment, especially extractions and surgical treatment.
PURPOSE: Many patients undergoing dental treatment have experienced pain associated with the treatment and become anxious and/or fearful of treatment. Anxiety and fear have conventionally been managed with the use of inhalation anesthesia or tranquilizers. However, their physical effects must also be considered, and they will not be suitable for all patients. The purpose of the present study was to assess the clinical effect of virtual reality (VR) to relieve anxiety during impacted mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used VR to alleviate anxiety concerning surgical treatment for 51 patients undergoing impacted mandibular third molar extraction under local anesthesia. Fear and anxiety before and after treatment were evaluated by a questionnaire that included a visual analog scale (VAS). The post-treatment questionnaire asked patients to evaluate their satisfaction on a 5-level Likert scale. Heart rate variability (HRV) was also analyzed in the VR group using acceleration plethysmography. RESULTS:Anxiety had decreased among the patients who had used VR (VR group), with a difference of -13.3 ± 28.7 mm in anxiety measured using a VAS before and during treatment. In contrast, it had increased by 4.0 ± 22.3 mm in the 49 patients who had not used VR. Furthermore, the post-treatment questionnaire administered to the VR group revealed that 92% had reported that their anxiety had decreased. Objective evaluation by HRV measurement also showed a sympathetic nerve-predominant state before treatment. However, with VR use during treatment, parasympathetic nervous activity was predominant, with a stable balance between the 2. No patient showed symptoms suggestive of cybersickness. CONCLUSIONS: These results have shown that the use of VR could be valuable during dental treatment, especially extractions and surgical treatment.
Authors: Vincent So; Marielle Balanaser; Gregory Klar; Jordan Leitch; Michael McGillion; P J Devereaux; Ramiro Arellano; Joel Parlow; Ian Gilron Journal: Pain Rep Date: 2021-12-02
Authors: Natalie Sui Miu Wong; Andy Wai Kan Yeung; Kar Yan Li; Colman Patrick McGrath; Yiu Yan Leung Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-06 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Nansi López-Valverde; Jorge Muriel Fernández; Antonio López-Valverde; Luis F Valero Juan; Juan Manuel Ramírez; Javier Flores Fraile; Julio Herrero Payo; Leticia A Blanco Antona; Bruno Macedo de Sousa; Manuel Bravo Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2020-04-05 Impact factor: 4.241