SynthesisBMC oral health2023
Virtual reality and behaviour management in paediatric dentistry: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC oral health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 24 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
"Evaluation of Virtual Reality Based Distraction on Anxiety and Pain Perception in Paediatric Dental Extraction: A Randomized Controlled Trial"
Beyond Distraction: Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Pain, Dental Fear, Behavioral Cooperation, and Parental Satisfaction During Pediatric Restorative Treatment-A Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- Technology-enhanced behavior guidance for pediatric dental anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and safety of virtual reality, augmented reality, biofeedback, and games.Frontiers in dental medicine · 2026Pooled it
- A systematic review and narrative synthesis of evidence from randomised controlled trials: the impact of behaviour guidance techniques on dental anxiety in paediatric patients.BMC oral health · 2025Pooled it
- A randomised controlled trial comparing effectiveness of audio-visual aid and ai-personalised video self-modelling interventions to reduce dental fear and anxiety in paediatric patients.European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry · 2026Trial
- Evaluating the use of augmented reality in alleviating anxiety and pain in children during intraoral injection administration: a randomized-controlled trial.European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry · 2026Trial
- Orthodontic diagnosis and usability of the web-based e-learning application orthotrainer.BMC medical education · 2025Trial
- Comparative efficacy of virtual reality headset and auditory distraction for reducing anxiety and pain during inferior alveolar nerve block in 7-10-year-old children: a clinical trial.BMC pediatrics · 2025Trial
- Benefits of using virtual reality in cariology teaching.BMC medical education · 2024Trial
- Design, Implementation, and Effectiveness of Virtual Reality and Digital Simulation Tools for Pediatric Dental Behavior Management Education: Systematic Review.JMIR serious games · 2026Review
- Impact of Mobile Oral Health Applications on Pediatric Dental Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.Cureus · 2026Review
- Behavioral and Cognitive Strategies in Pediatric Dentistry: Current Concepts in Anxiety and Fear Management.Cureus · 2026Review
- Effect of live video output display of dental operating microscope on patient anxiety during restorative treatment: A comparative clinical study.Journal of conservative dentistry and endodontics · 2026Article
- Efficacy comparison of clown care therapy versus virtual reality distraction on venipuncture-induced anxiety in preschool children: a retrospective cohort study.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Analgesic and Sedative Effects of Virtual Reality on Children with Acute Pulpitis: A Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Reimagining Pediatric Dental Behavior Guidance: Introducing the Strategic Structured Collaborative Technique.International journal of clinical pediatric dentistry · 2025Article
- Effect of a virtual reality simulator for preclinical instruction of operative dentistry on level of competence of undergraduate dental students.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Beyond failure: a case report on brain state changes during virtual reality-induced hypnosis in pediatric patient.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Odontophobia Across the Lifespan: Clinical Perspectives, Vulnerable Populations, and Inclusive Strategies for Dental Anxiety Management.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Article
- Benefits and challenges of the integration of haptics-enhanced virtual reality training within dental curricula.Journal of dental education · 2025Review
- Survey on awareness of artificial intelligence in pediatric dentistry.Bioinformation · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundVirtual reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative tool in medicine and dentistry, improving anxiety and pain management in children. The immersive and interactive environments of VR technology facilitate positive engagement of young patients during dental procedures via distraction, potentially reducing anxiety levels and improving treatment experience. The aim of this review was to provide current evidence-based guidance on the usage of VR in the clinical practice of paediatric dentistry.
methodsA 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 searched and analysed.
resultsA total of 22 randomised control trials were included in this review. These studies have shown that VR is a highly effective method of behaviour management, successfully alleviating pain and anxiety in children during dental treatment, surpassing traditional tools. Selected studies included participants with a large age range and dental procedures varied greatly, from first consultations to infiltration of local anaesthetic and other invasive procedures. VR was mostly used during treatment delivery and different immersive VR techniques were considered. Behaviour, anxiety and pain scales were used to determine efficacy and patient satisfaction.
conclusionsVR offers an engaging and immersive experience, effectively diverting patients' attention away from the clinical environment, fostering a positive and enjoyable treatment experience. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of existing studies and the need for further research to enhance the understanding of VR's full potential in paediatric dentistry.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.