NCT07052019

Pain Perception and Anxiety With Virtual Reality vs Tell-Show-Do in Children With MIH

Pain Perception and Anxiety With Virtual Reality Distraction Versus Tell-Show-Do Technique in Restorative Treatment for Children With Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: A Pilot Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Cairo University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This pilot crossover randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effect of distraction using Virtual Reality (VR) versus the Tell-Show-Do (TSD) technique on pain perception and anxiety in children aged 6-12 with Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) undergoing restorative dental treatment.

Detailed description

Molar Incisor Hypomineralization is a prevalent developmental condition affecting the enamel of first permanent molars and, occasionally, incisors. It presents significant clinical challenges due to the hypersensitivity and increased pain perception in affected teeth, which can make restorative treatment especially distressing for pediatric patients. Children with MIH are often apprehensive toward dental procedures, resulting in higher levels of dental anxiety that can impact their cooperation and the overall success of treatment. The management of pain and anxiety during restorative treatments is therefore crucial, particularly in this vulnerable population. Behavioral management techniques, such as the Tell-Show-Do (TSD) approach, have been widely used in pediatric dentistry to alleviate anxiety and improve patient cooperation. However, recent advances in digital technology, particularly Virtual Reality (VR), offer novel, immersive forms of distraction that could enhance pain management by shifting the child's attention away from the dental procedure. VR distraction has shown promise in reducing anxiety and pain perception across various medical and dental settings, but its efficacy compared to traditional behavioral techniques, such as TSD, remains under-explored, especially in the context of MIH. A recent systematic reviews of behavioral interventions in pediatric dentistry highlighted a lack of robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of VR as a distraction technique in dental settings, particularly in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The reviews specifically called for more rigorous studies to directly compare VR with established techniques like TSD in managing dental anxiety and pain perception. Given this identified gap in the literature, this study aims to address these limitations by conducting a crossover randomized clinical trial to compare VR distraction with TSD in children with MIH undergoing restorative treatment. By examining both pain perception and anxiety levels, this study seeks to contribute valuable insights into the comparative effectiveness of VR and TSD, providing evidence-based recommendations for pediatric dental practitioners.

Conditions

• Molar Incisor Hypomineralization

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Virtual Reality Distraction	Children wear virtual reality glasses during restorative dental treatment to reduce pain and anxiety.
BEHAVIORAL	Tell-Show-Do Technique	Conventional behavioral technique where the dentist tells, shows, and then performs the procedure to reduce anxiety and build cooperation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-01
• Primary completion: 2025-10-01
• Completion: 2025-12-01
• First posted: 2025-07-04
• Last updated: 2025-07-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt