Back to Search Start Over

Virtual reality in dentistry: a scoping review

Authors :
Meschi, Nastaran
Mooens, Kelly
Seppe Bleyen
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Open Science Framework, 2023.

Abstract

The main objective of this scoping review was to identify evidence regarding the adjunct of virtual reality (VR) in dentistry in healthy patients (ASA I and II) with dental anxiety. The methodology of this review was based on the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR checklist) and JBI guidance. The Population, Concept and Context structure were applied in order to determine eligibility criteria and search terms. A literature search strategy was carried out in PubMed and EMBASE databases on September 2nd 2021. Only studies with an available full text in English were included. Two reviewers performed the article search, selection and screening in a blinded manner. The same reviewers performed the data extraction by means of tables and graphs. In total, 43 studies were included in this scoping review, of which 34 interventional studies (mainly RCTs, CCTs and case series studies) and nine systematic reviews with/without meta-analysis. Nineteen included interventional studies were also involved in the included systematic reviews. VR was applied in pediatric dentistry, oral surgery (tooth extraction), dental caries treatment, periodontology, wound care after burn injury, upper extremity surgery, immunization and medical imaging. While using VR during dental treatment, 21 articles showed a significant reduction in anxiety and pain perception, nine articles reported a reduction in blood pressure and pulse rate, one article reported the decrease of the salivary cortisol levels. The application of VR in dentistry is reported to be user-friendly, mentioned by two articles. Adverse events due to the application of VR in dentistry go from mild nausea (12 studies) to severe dizziness, seizures, eye or muscle twitching, or blackouts triggered by light flashes (one study). No data regarding cost and maintenance were found in the included articles. VR is applied as an adjunct to dental treatment of healthy patients (ASA I and II) in diverse fields in dentistry, but reports in endodontology are lacking. It seems to decrease the patients’ anxiety, pain perception, blood pressure, pulse rate and salivary cortisol level during dental treatment. Taking into account the potential adverse effects and potential cost, it seems to be easy-to-use in dentistry.

Details

Database :
OpenAIRE
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....5eb2f446bb7066df17a4a6b351792963
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/kc4z7