Virtual reality among dental patients – cross-sectional, questionnaire, pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety preceding dental appointment is a common problem among both children and adult patients. It is frequently the reason of avoiding visits what often results in poor oral health and deterioration of general well-being. There is a number of methods regarding patients’ relaxation as well prior the appointment as amid one, virtual reality among them. Material and methods: The study was carried out among 100 adult dental patients while they waited for their appointment in the waiting room. Interviewees completed the multiple-choice, uncompelled questionnaire containing four questions. Results: The results show that the most frequently chosen answer was projection of landscapes (40%) or an interactive journey like beach walk or mountain trekking (35%). No differences were observed between men and woman, in both groups projection of landscapes was the most common answer. The vast majority of interviewees (87%) was willing to try virtual reality during dental treatment while the remaining 13% did not want to experience virtual reality at all. Conclusions: Most of the participants were eager to try virtual reality amid dental appointment and they rather chose calm and relaxing contend instead of interactive quizzes or games. It is promising that dental patients are willing to be ready to try out innovative technologies in the fight against dental anxiety.

Keywords

• dental anxiety
• dental treatment
• virtual reality
• relaxation
• dental fear