Augmented reality glasses or noise-cancelling headphones to reduce anxiety during dental procedures
Use of New Technologies in Dentistry
This trial will test whether AR glasses or noise-cancelling headphones with relaxing music can help adults feel less anxious during routine dental and minor oral surgical procedures.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Medical University of Warsaw Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship) |
| Trial ID | NCT07398898 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled trial that assigns adult patients undergoing routine dental procedures to one of three groups: AR glasses showing immersive nature video with relaxing music, over-ear active noise-cancelling headphones playing relaxing music, or a sensory placebo control. Up to 250 patients will be enrolled with a planned analysis sample of 192 evenly split across the three arms. Anxiety will be measured before and after procedures using the STAI questionnaire and during procedures using physiological metrics such as heart rate and skin conductance. The interventions use commercially available devices (VITURE Pro XR for AR and Apple AirPods Max for ANC) and are applied during standard dental care at the University Dental Center of the Medical University of Warsaw.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18 and older) scheduled for procedures like supragingival scaling, curettage, tooth extraction, or cavity preparation who can give informed consent and complete anxiety questionnaires are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients with acute dental pain, recent seizures, pregnancy, severe vision or hearing impairment, use of hearing aids, inability to cooperate, or other exclusion criteria are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these interventions could reduce patient anxiety and physiological stress during dental procedures, making care more comfortable and easier to complete.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of immersive audiovisual distraction and music therapy in dental settings have generally shown modest reductions in anxiety and physiological arousal, though results vary by device and patient population.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Qualified for one of the following dental procedures: supragingival scaling, curettage, tooth extraction, or caries cavity preparation and restoration * Provided written informed consent * Agreed to random allocation to one of the study groups * Able to understand and complete the STAI questionnaire and VAS pain scale Exclusion Criteria: * Acute dental pain at the time of the procedure * Teeth qualified for resection * Pregnancy * Diagnosis of cerebral palsy * Epilepsy with seizures in the past 6 months * Use of hearing aids * Severe vision impairment * Non-cooperative behavior or inability to understand the study questionnaires * Absence on the scheduled procedure date
Where this trial is running
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship
- University Dental Center, Medical University of Warsaw — Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jan Kowalski, Associate Professor, MD, PhD — Medical University of Warsaw
- Study coordinator: Jakub Bereziewicz
- Email: jakub.bereziewicz@wum.edu.pl
- Phone: 0048663332515
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.