Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Glasses Digital Screens and Verbal Command as a Method to Distract Young Patients during Administration of Local Anesthesia

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The study investigates the effect and compares three techniques-video-eyeglasses earphone system, Digital screens and verbal methods as distracting technique to assess dental pain reaction in children during administration of local anesthesia (LA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pain or its anticipation can cause fear and anxiety in a child which could complicate further dental treatment. This cross-sectional study consists of 97 children of age-group 4–8 years who required local anesthesia for their dental treatment were selected. Children were randomly allocated into three groups namely- Verbal method (group A), video eyeglass/earphone system (group B) and digital screens (group C). In group A, instructions were given to the patient by the dentist while administering local anesthesia. In group B, VR box was used to show age appropriate videos according to subjects’ choice. In group C, digital screens were placed on dental chair for patient to watch while nerve block was administered. Pain was measured using face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) scale behavioral anxiety/pain assessment scale. RESULTS: FLACC score was found to be significantly different among three groups. The mean FLACC scale score for pain was less in video eyeglass/earphone (1.94) than digital screens (3.67) and highest in Verbal group (6.88). CONCLUSION: Video eyeglasses/earphone method proved to be most effective as a distraction method in children and helped in reducing children's disruptive behavior in the dental setting. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study was conducted to find a better distraction technique among video eyeglasses/earphone system, digital screens and Verbal command that will make child less apprehensive during administration of local anesthesia. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sharma Y, Bhatia HP, Soods S, et al. Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Glasses Digital Screens and Verbal Command as a method to Distract Young Patients during Administration of Local Anesthesia. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(S-2):S143–S147.