Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety in Pediatric Dental Treatment

Sponsor
University of British Columbia
Study ID
NCT07636330
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Dental Anxiety in Children
  • Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
6 Years - 12 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Immersive Virtual Reality Headset — DEVICE
    A commercially available immersive VR headset used as a non-pharmacological distraction tool during routine pediatric dental procedures. Children wear the headset throughout their treatment to engage with an interactive virtual environment designed to reduce pain and anxiety.
  • Standard Behaviour Guidance — BEHAVIORAL
    Standard behaviour guidance techniques routinely used in pediatric dentistry, including tell-show-do, positive reinforcement, and distraction through verbal communication and a TV screen. No virtual reality headset is used.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether immersive virtual reality (VR) reduces pain and anxiety in children aged 6-12 years during routine dental procedures. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does VR distraction reduce self-reported pain and anxiety during dental treatment compared to standard behaviour guidance? * Does VR distraction improve children's post-procedural experience and willingness to return for future dental visits? Researchers will compare children using a VR headset during dental treatment to children receiving standard behaviour guidance techniques. Participants will: * Attend one routine dental appointment * Be randomly assigned to wear a VR headset or receive standard care during their procedure * Complete brief questionnaires about pain and anxiety before and after treatment * Receive a follow-up phone call 24-72 hours after the appointment

Key Dates

First listed
Jun 9, 2026
Start date
Jun 2, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Jun 18, 2027
Completion
Jun 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: VR Distraction
    Children wear an immersive VR headset during routine dental treatment as a non-pharmacological distraction intervention. The VR headset provides an engaging visual and auditory environment to reduce pain and anxiety during the procedure.
  • Active Comparator: Standard Behaviour Guidance
    Children receive standard behaviour guidance techniques commonly used in pediatric dentistry, such as tell-show-do and positive reinforcement, without VR distraction.

Primary Outcome Measure

Self-Reported Pain During Dental Procedure Using Faces Pain Scale [ Time Frame: Baseline Pre-procedural and Immediately following the dental procedure (same day) ]

Central Contacts

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