Indications and Therapeutic Potential of Virtual Reality in Pediatric Dentistry

Volume 4 - Issue 4

Do NM¹, Graff D², Chauvin C^2,3, Manière MC⁴ and Clauss F¹*

Received: November 03, 2020;   Published: November 17, 2020

DOI: 10.32474/SJPBS.2020.04.000192

Full Text PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

In the age of technology, Virtual Reality (VR) has stormed into many aspects of our lives, the medical field is no exception. According to Global Industry Analysts, the VR market in medicine is expected to grow to $2,2 billion by 2027. This technology hold promises in revolutionizing the healthcare industry. Its applications are ranging from training medical professionals (with possibilities for students to better assess medical notions or to treat virtual patients during their pre-clinical course) to diagnosing and treating various conditions. The user is immerged into a tri-dimensional multi-sensory ambiance and his focus is solely on the scenario. It’s an immensely powerful tool for probing the relationship between emotion and audio/visual perception. As imaginative and inquisitive as children are, the immersive quality of VR is most likely to amaze them. Their attraction for new technologies combined with their ease to escape to a specific scenario through movies or videogames can make the VR experience, and therefore the medical or dental procedure, more pleasant for them. This article summarizes the therapeutic potential of VR in pediatric dentistry through its anxiolytic and analgesic effects.

Keywords: Virtual reality; Analgesia; Anxiolytic; Distraction; Dental; Children

Abstract| Introduction| Conclusion| References|