Audiovisual distraction: A pricking pain reduction modality among ladies receiving intraoral injections

Objective: To determine the effect of audiovisual distraction (AVD) using virtual reality device (bobo VRZ4-VRBOX) on intensity of pricking pain at the intraoral injection site among different age groups in ladies. Study Design: Experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Operative Dentistry, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, during September 2018 to March 2019. Methodology: An in-vivo interventional study, using split-mouth technique was conducted in 50 lady patients of sample size of 50, to investigate pricking pain perception during needle insertion. Topical anesthesia (benzocaine gel) was applied on left side (control) for 1 minute without audiovisual distraction (AVD); whereas, on the experimental side (right), similar methodology was followed after topical anesthesia but with AVD via VR-Z4 video eyeglasses after the local anesthesia was administered. Patients' pain perception ratings were measured through visual analog scale (VAS). After profound anesthesia was achieved, restorative treatment was performed under rubber dam isolation. Results: Audiovisual (AV) device was effective in decreasing the pricking pain sensed by the patients during infiltrate anesthesia; but the score remained within the same pain category. The effect of audiovisual distraction (AVD) using virtual reality device (VRZ4-VRBOX) was statistically insignificant on intensity of pricking pain at the intraoral injection site among different age groups in ladies. Conclusion: AV device is not dependent on age (21-50 years) in reducing the pricking pain. Pain is effectively reduced after the use of AV device, but this reduction is not statistically significant.