Dental Distraction Goggles: An innovation

Abstract

Patients who are undergoing dental procedures develop emotions which depend mostly on the nervous and endocrinal systems. It can be illustrious in between physiological changes, behavioural, bodily movements and facial expressions of the patient. Source of consciousness augment the fight or flight response. Dental procedures cause quite an anxiety i.e., emotions similar to fear but arise with a source that are unrecognised. Therefore, it is a problematical occurrence for both patients and dentist [1]. The substantial fraction of first dental visit may obstinate the patient who are not aware of the instructions given by the dentist causing difficulty to grasp the oral hygiene practices and therefore, establish the poor oral hygiene [2]. The occurrence of anxiety takes place by means of seeing the dental chair set-up and the sounds caused by the equipment or the machinery. Usually, every patient prefers a comfortable, calm and soothing environment during dental treatment procedures on a dental chair. Hence, an innovation is made as an eyewear with a removable disc exhibiting pictures/images in it to circumvent anxiety and engross the patient from fear of the treatment procedure, thereby distracting the patient from anxiety during the dental procedure [3]. Distraction technique is most successful and effective technique among the patients for reduction in dental anxiety. It diverts the patient’s attention from the treatment process [3]. It is not only a successful and effective technique, but recent dental studies have shown that distraction is most commonly used technique to create positive behaviour, thereby altering the perception of pain and responses to the dental procedures [4-6]. Distraction technique is in general classified into active distraction and passive distraction techniques [5,7]. In paediatric patients, active distraction technique promotes the child’s interest during the dental treatment which includes singing, playing toys, squeezing balls and so on. Passive distraction technique requires the child to be quiet and calm during the dental procedure [5]. The difference between fear and anxiety is contentious and many times it is considered to be same. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that, if stimulus is known then it is fear and when it is unknown, then it is known be anxiety [7]. The effectiveness and outcome of the treatment in paediatric patients is greatly dependent on the patient’s behaviour and cooperation. Use of distraction methods during the treatment have gained popularity and proved effective. The present paper has reviewed one such patented distraction goggles number 202241017726A and its utility in anxiety management.

Keywords

• anxiety
• behaviour management
• fear