Using AR and VR glasses to help children feel less pain and anxiety during local dental anesthesia
The Effect of Augmented Reality Versus Virtual Reality Glasses as Distraction Techniques in Children During the Administration of Local Anesthesia A Randomized Clinical Trial
This project will try augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) glasses to see if they help children aged 5–8 feel less pain and anxiety during local dental anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 5 Years to 8 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ain Shams University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Cairo, Egypt) |
| Trial ID | NCT07060170 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-center pediatric study compares augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) glasses as audiovisual distraction during local anesthetic injections in children aged 5–8. After an introductory visit to familiarize children with the dental environment and confirm cooperation, participants attend two treatment visits in which they wear AR or VR glasses (one type per visit) while receiving local infiltration anesthesia. Researchers will collect saliva for biomarkers (salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol) and continuously record vital signs such as heart rate and oxygen saturation before and after anesthesia to measure physiological stress and pain responses. The within-subject design allows direct comparison of the two distraction methods in the same child at the Pediatric Dentistry Department of Ain Shams University in Cairo.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 5–8 who are cooperative (Frankl behavior rating 3–4), healthy (ASA I), at normal weight for age, without anxiety disorders or prior local anesthetic exposure, and who need local anesthetic for deep caries in primary molars on both sides are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children with special health care needs, known anxiety or salivary gland disorders, those on corticosteroids, those who have previously received local anesthesia, or uncooperative children are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from the tested interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these glasses could help children experience less pain and anxiety during dental injections, making visits easier and less stressful.
How similar studies have performed: Previous pediatric research has shown that virtual reality distraction can reduce procedural pain and anxiety, while augmented reality has been less extensively studied but shows early promise.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 5-8 year-old female and male patients. 2. Cooperative patients (rating 3 or 4 on the Frankl's Behavior Rating Scale). 3. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class (I). 4. Patients need dental treatment under local anesthetic infiltration. 5. Patients without known anxiety disorders. 6. Patients with body weight that is considered normal according to their age and gender (95th percentile growth curve). 7. Patients without a prior history of receiving local anesthetic. 8. Patients with at least one vital primary molar with deep carious lesion on each side of the dental arch, who require to be treated under local anesthesia Exclusion Criteria 1. Patients with special health care needs. 2. Patients on corticosteroid medications. 3. Patients having known salivary disorders, such as Sjogren's syndrome. 4. Parents who refused to sign the informed consent.
Where this trial is running
Cairo, Egypt
- Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt — Cairo, Egypt, Egypt (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Master's Degree Candidate
- Email: rihamamir@dent.asu.edu.eg
- Phone: 1554566997
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.