Comparative Evaluation of Virtual Reality and Behavioural Counselling on Reducing the Anxiety in Patients during the Dental Treatment

Background: Anxiety is an enthusiastic state of mind which goes before an experience with feared object or circumstances. The main pharmacological treatment for reducing dental anxiety is local anaesthesia but it involves an injection with a needle prick which is refused by quiet patient. Some techniques were put forward to minimize the suffering during dental treatment such as diversion techniques, TV and hypnotism rather than pharmacological means. Virtual Reality (VR) is a three-dimensional domain that provide users a perception of submission, leading them to an interactive area.

Objectives: To distract mind with virtual reality, that has quite less access to handle approaching pain and anxiety signals and to minimize patient discomfort and uneasiness during dental treatment.

Methodology: The study will be conducted among patients reporting to Out Patient Department of Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital eligible patients who meet the eligibility criteria will take part in the trial. The study will be conducted between two groups and the anxiety scale will be calculated pre-test and post-test for each patient. One group of patients are given VR and the other group is given behavioural counselling before beginning of dental treatment.

Results: Virtual reality, a diversion is believed to assist users to get through by other unpleasant events during dental treatment. On application of virtual reality considerable decrease in anxiety is expected.

Conclusion: Virtual reality can be used to decrease anxiety during medical and dental treatment which can affect patients desire towards the treatment. Distractions may also have enduring effect in regards to more favourable impression of therapy.