ABSTRACT
Background and objective Oral health is critical for children's overall well-being; however, dental anxiety often leads to the avoidance of necessary dental care among children. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a successful adjunctive tool in various clinical settings, including pain management. This cohort study explores the use of VR technology in reducing anxiety and pain perception during dental procedures for children. The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of VR distraction in managing pain and anxiety levels in children aged four to six years during dental procedures. Additionally, the study aimed to compare children's anxiety levels with and without VR eyeglasses. Methodology This single-blind, crossover clinical trial was conducted at the Dental Complex of King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Of the 200 children screened initially, 20 aged four to six years who met the inclusion criteria were selected, and ethical approval for the study was obtained. The study comprised two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Dental procedures were conducted both with and without the use of VR, employing a split-mouth design. Results Our findings provide important insights into the clinical impact of using VR technology to alleviate children's anxiety during dental clinic visits. In our study, we used ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test to evaluate the effect of VR glasses on vital metrics in children during dental procedures. Our results showed no significant differences before and after using the VR glasses, indicating limited effectiveness in reducing anxiety in this context. Conclusion Based on our findings, we reject the assumption that VR devices are highly effective in diverting children's attention and reducing their anxiety and pain during dental procedures; we recommend further investigations to identify potential confounding factors that could modulate the utility of VR in medical settings.
ABSTRACT
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA) among school-going children in Al Ahsa.To identify the factors that trigger DFA in the dental office. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted. Eight hundred and sixteen, 7-12-year-old children studying in government and private schools spread across the city of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, participated in the study. A self-reported questionnaire with 15 close-ended questions pertaining to DFA in logical order was distributed to all the participants. Each question had three options as responses with images. The children were asked to choose the option that best fitted their response. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DFA among boys and girls was found to be 50.4 and 71.28%, respectively. The majority of the boys studying in government schools reported DFA when informed about the treatment in advance, while most of those studying in private schools reported DFA at the sight of the dental chair and dental injections, while walking into the clinic, in the waiting room, when informed about the treatment in advance and their tooth being drilled. On the contrary, the responses were very similar among girls irrespective of their school. Most of the boys and girls did not experience any DFA when their parents were allowed to accompany them. Hence, a tailor-made approach for the management of the child in the dental office is warranted. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A tailor-made approach for the management of DFA in the dental office plays a significant role in successful treatment. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Alshuaibi AF, Aldarwish M, Almulhim AN, et a l. Prevalence of Dental Fear and Anxiety and Its Triggering Factors in the Dental Office among School-going Children in Al Ahsa. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):286-292.
