Virtual Reality Audiovisual Distraction During Pediatric Dental Treatment (VR-DENT-PED)

October 2, 2026 updated by: Alberto Adanero Velasco, Universidad Europea de Madrid

Audiovisual Distraction Using Virtual Reality Glasses for Reducing Anxiety During Pediatric Dental Treatment: A Prospective Non-Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

Dental anxiety is common in children and may interfere with cooperation during dental treatment. Audiovisual distraction using virtual reality glasses may help redirect attention away from dental stimuli and improve the patient experience.

This completed prospective non-randomized controlled clinical study evaluated the effect of virtual reality audiovisual distraction on anxiety-related variables in pediatric patients undergoing dental treatment at the Dental Clinic of Universidad Europea de Madrid. Participants received either standard dental care without audiovisual distraction or standard dental care while using virtual reality glasses during the procedure.

Dental anxiety was assessed using the Modified Facial Image Scale. Heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation were recorded using pediatric pulse oximetry. Behavioral response was assessed using the FLACC scale. Measurements were taken before, during, and after dental treatment; in the virtual reality group, additional measurements were collected while the child was using the glasses and after the glasses were removed. This record was submitted after completion of participant enrollment and data collection for retrospective public registration.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study was conducted in pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years who attended the Dental Clinic of Universidad Europea de Madrid and required dental treatment. Patients were assigned to one of two clinical conditions: standard dental care without audiovisual distraction or standard dental care with audiovisual distraction using virtual reality glasses. The virtual reality glasses reproduced narrative audiovisual content intended to distract the child from the dental procedure and reduce anxiety-related responses.

The dental procedures included prophylaxis, topical fluoride application, pit and fissure sealants, and restorative dental treatment. All dental procedures were performed by dental students under direct supervision of calibrated clinical instructors with experience in pediatric dentistry. Operators and investigators received specific training in the use of the anxiety and behavioral assessment scales and in the recording of physiological variables.

The primary outcome was dental anxiety assessed using the Modified Facial Image Scale. Secondary outcomes included heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, and behavioral response using the FLACC scale. Measurements were recorded at predefined time points during the dental visit. The final analytical sample consisted of 79 participants; however, actual enrollment was 81 because two participants in the virtual reality group discontinued the intervention by removing the glasses during treatment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
79

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Madrid
      • Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 28003
        • Policlinica Universitaria UEM

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years to 17 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years.
  • Patients attending the Dental Clinic of Universidad Europea de Madrid for dental treatment.
  • Written informed consent provided by parents or legal guardians.
  • Child assent/information provided according to age and level of understanding.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Absence of written informed consent from parents or legal guardians.
  • Visual or auditory impairment preventing the use of audiovisual distraction.
  • Medical conditions contraindicating dental treatment in the clinical setting.
  • Behavioral management not feasible in the clinical setting.
  • In the virtual reality group, discontinuation of the intervention by removing the glasses during treatment.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Virtual Reality Audiovisual Distraction

Participants received standard pediatric dental treatment while wearing virtual reality glasses that reproduced narrative audiovisual content during the procedure.
Behavioral: Audiovisual distraction using virtual reality glasses

Use of virtual reality glasses during pediatric dental treatment to provide immersive audiovisual distraction and redirect attention away from dental stimuli.
No Intervention: Standard Dental Care

Participants received standard pediatric dental treatment under usual clinical conditions without additional audiovisual distraction.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in dental anxiety assessed using the Modified Facial Image Scale
Time Frame: Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.

Dental anxiety was measured using the Modified Facial Image Scale, a child-friendly facial scale used to assess self-perceived emotional state in pediatric dental settings. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety or a more negative emotional response.
Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in heart rate during pediatric dental treatment
Time Frame: Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.

Heart rate was recorded using pediatric pulse oximetry and expressed in beats per minute.
Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.
Change in peripheral oxygen saturation during pediatric dental treatment
Time Frame: Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.

Peripheral oxygen saturation was recorded using pediatric pulse oximetry and expressed as SpO2 percentage.
Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.
Behavioral response assessed using the FLACC scale
Time Frame: Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.

Behavioral response was assessed using the FLACC scale, which evaluates Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability. The total score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater behavioral distress or discomfort.
Baseline before dental treatment, Perioprative: during dental treatment, Immediately after dental treatment. In the virtual reality arm: Baseline before dental treatment Perioperative: while using the glasses After treatment; after removal.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Universidad Europea de Madrid

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 10, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 15, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CIPI-22-306

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because the study involved pediatric participants and the dataset contains potentially sensitive clinical information. De-identified aggregated data or additional information may be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and subject to institutional and ethical restrictions.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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