Effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) technology towards pain management during initial fixed orthodontic procedures: A case-control study

Abstract

The goal of this research is to see how effective virtual reality (VR) is in reducing discomfort during early fixed orthodontic operations. The research comprised 70 individuals, all of whom were between the ages of 15 to 18 years randomly divided into two groups- research group (n=35) and the control group (n=35). Patients in the experimental group received a virtual reality headset and watched interesting movies during orthodontic procedures, while those in the control group received regular care. The VR headgear was placed over the patient's eyes as the dental procedure began in the study group, whereas the controls group's eyes were kept open as they viewed the clinic and dental procedures going on around them. After adopting virtual reality movies before and after dental treatments, there was a statistically significant difference in pain levels between the control and study groups. The mean pain ratings during orthodontic treatment were 8.6 and 6.3 in the control and study groups, respectively. Following orthodontic treatment, the control and study groups reported mean pain levels of 7.4 and 6.7, respectively. VR is found to be an effective method in pain alleviation during initial fixed orthodontic procedures.