Indications and Therapeutic Potential of Virtual Reality in Pediatric Dentistry

Use of virtual reality in pediatric dentistryVR is a computer technology that creates an artificial 3-dimensional simulated environment through audio and visual immersion.It consists of a head mounted display and a pair of goggles that are connected to either a computer or a cell phone.The headset has sensors that track user's head movements, creating the illusion of moving around in the virtual space [3].The VR scenario needs to be adapted to the context of dental treatment, with calm and anxiolytic scenarios, avoiding any agitation, hyperstimulation, or head movements during the procedures.However, the child is much more than a simple passive recipient of VR: he becomes an active collaborator of his treatment through the choice of the virtual reality environment.While in VR, he can interact with virtual characters controlled by computer algorithms called embodied agents.The first-person view in VR creates the illusion of being surrounded by the virtual environment and sharing the same AbstractIn 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.