A realidade virtual em odontopediatria, indicações e potencial terapêutico

: revisão sistemática

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative tool in the field of
paediatric dentistry, improving anxiety and pain management. By leveraging
immersive and interactive virtual environments, VR technology effectively distracts and engages young patients during dental procedures, leading to substantial reductions in anxiety levels and enhancing overall treatment experiences. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines with the following research question using the PICO format: Does VR (I) effectively manage anxiety and pain (O) during a paediatric dental consultation (P) compared to alternative behavioural control techniques (C)? PubMed/Medline®, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases were meticulously searched and analysed. Results: Search queries identified a total of 525 abstracts from three different databases. Duplicate articles were removed (n=79), leaving a total of 446 abstracts. After reading the title and abstract, 392 records were excluded. In the end, 22 articles were considered suitable for this systematic review. Conclusion: VR is a highly effective method of behaviour management, successfully alleviating pain and anxiety in children during dental treatment, surpassing traditional tools. By offering an engaging and immersive experience, VR effectively diverts patients' attention away from the clinical environment, fostering a positive and enjoyable treatment experience. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations of existing studies, highlighting the need for further research to enhance the understanding of VR's full potential in paediatric dentistry.

Date of Award	19 Jul 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Patrícia Nunes Correia (Supervisor) & Anna Moura (Co-Supervisor)