Comparative Clinical Study Between Virtual Reality Hypnosis and Nitrous Oxide Inhalation for Dental Anxie

NCT ID: NCT05167331

Last Updated: 2022-02-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-02-28

Study Completion Date

2023-03-31

Brief Summary

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The vicious circle of dental anxiety impacts major aspects of a child's quality of life. Hypnosis using distraction is one of the most common non-pharmalogical techniques in behavior and pain management in pediatric dentistry. Its value over traditional pharmalogical sedation is undeniable. This clinical study examines the application of hypnosis delivered through immersive virtual reality (VR) for anxious children ongoing dental procedures. The investigators will explore whether VR is as effective on pain and anxiety relief as a pharmacological sedation with inhalation of nitrous oxide.

Detailed Description

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The working hypothesis of this study is that hypnosis through virtual reality can reduce children's anxiety as well as their pain level during dental care with an efficiency and tolerance at least similar to nitrous oxide inhalation. Specifically, the statistical analyses will be based on an assumption of non-inferiority of VR compared to the pharmacological technique of nitrous oxide sedation.

Each patient (aged from 6 to 10) attended for two visits in order to benefit of 2 similar conservative dental treatments on primary molars.

Everyone was randomly allocated to receive hypnosis through virtual reality or nitrous oxide/oxygen titrated to 50%/50% at the first visit, the alternative being used at the second visit. This randomization helps avoid any experimental bias related to a first positive or negative experience, each patient being its own control.

Vital signs and a video of the child's behavior are recorded for an external examinator. The video shows the child's body response as an indicator for his anxiety level through the procedures. The child's face doesn't appear on the video in order to reduce risks of bias.

Conditions

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Dental Anxiety

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Virtual Reality

* (T1) after fitting the headset to the child's face, the assistant starts the VR program chosen by the child.
* (T2) Five minutes after induction, local anesthesia with the QUICKSLEEPER device is performed. The injection of a cartridge of anesthetic Articaïne SEPTANEST 1/200 000 is administered intraosseously.
* (T3) After placing the rubber dam, the investigator performs restorative +/- endodontic care of the selected temporary molar.
* (T4) Once the treatment is finished, the sedation is stopped and the patient rests in the chair for 5 minutes.
* (T5) As soon as the investigator considers that the child is back to normal state, he can leave the office with his parents.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dispositif de RV - HYPNO VR

Intervention Type DEVICE

use of Virtual Reality on children's anxiety during a dental treatment

Nitrous oxide sedation

* (T1) With the nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation system titrated to 50%/50% whose flow rate is adapted to the child's respiratory flow. The assistant is responsible for controlling the sedation. Verbal encouragement is always present to reassure the child.
* (T2) Five minutes after induction, local anesthesia with the QUICKSLEEPER device is performed. The injection of a cartridge of anesthetic Articaïne SEPTANEST 1/200 000 is administered intraosseously.
* (T3) After placing the rubber dam, the investigator performs restorative +/- endodontic care of the selected temporary molar.
* (T4) Once the treatment is finished, the sedation is stopped and the patient rests in the chair for 5 minutes.
* (T5) As soon as the investigator considers that the child is back to normal state, he can leave the office with his parents.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Nitrous Oxide inhalation

Intervention Type DRUG

use of Nitrous Oxide inhalation on children's anxiety during a dental treatment

Interventions

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Nitrous Oxide inhalation

use of Nitrous Oxide inhalation on children's anxiety during a dental treatment

Intervention Type DRUG

Dispositif de RV - HYPNO VR

use of Virtual Reality on children's anxiety during a dental treatment

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients aged between 7 and 10 years
* With an indication for conservative and/or endodontic care of at least 2 temporary molars belonging to the same dental arch, unilateral or bilateral, and equivalent in terms of caries and symptoms
* With dental anxiety
* ASA I patients

Exclusion Criteria

* Patient with a history of MEOPA or virtual reality sedation for dental treatment
* Patient refusing to do preoperative intra-oral x-rays
* Patient with one of the MEOPA contraindications
* Patient with a history of post-operative nausea vomiting or motion sickness
* Patient with visual or hearing disorders
* Patient presenting with a psychiatric pathology or having taken psychotropic drugs in the 8 weeks preceding the 1st visit and during the duration of the study
* Patient with claustrophobia
* Patient without French Social Security coverage
* Lack of consent from the holders of parental authority to participate in the study
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

10 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Les Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg

Strasbourg, , France

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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France

Central Contacts

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François CLAUSS

Role: CONTACT

+33 3 88 11 69 56

Facility Contacts

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François CLAUSS

Role: primary

+33 3 88 11 69 56

References

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Do NM, Maniere MC, Lefebvre F, Clauss F. Efficacy of virtual reality hypnosis versus conscious sedation with nitrous oxide in the management of dental anxiety in pediatric dentistry: protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2025 Jun 9;26(1):201. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-08849-z.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40490788 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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8113

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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