Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Immersive Visualization (IV) eyewear on anxious, adult patients during oral debridement.
Methods: Thirty adult volunteers (n=23 females; n=7 males) were enrolled in the study. Participants were required to be 18 years or older, exhibit at least moderate anxiety (score 9 or higher) on the Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale-Revised (DAS-R), and be generally healthy. Individuals were excluded from participation if they presented with severe dental calculus, periodontal disease, or dental caries, were taking psychotropic drugs, had a history of convulsive disorders, vertigo, or equilibrium disorders, or required antibiotic pre-medication. Subjects received a full mouth oral prophylaxis (supra- and subgingival scaling and selective polishing) by a single experienced dental hygienist. A split mouth design was utilized whereby each subject served as their own control. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A used IV eyewear during the first one-half of the appointment (right side of the mouth) and Group B used IV eyewear during the second one-half of the appointment (left side of the mouth). At screening, medical and dental histories were obtained, full mouth oral examinations were performed, and DAS-R was scored to determine eligibility. At baseline, the DAS-R was re-scored to validate anxiety levels. The Calmness Scale was scored pre- and post-IV treatment on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (very calm) to 7 (less calm). At the end of the study, subjects completed a Post IV Opinion survey. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel for Mac 2011 (Microsoft Corporation Version 14.3.5) and analyzed using SAS® 9.3 statistical software.
Results: Thirty subjects with a mean age of 29.9 years completed the study. Data analysis indicated no statistically significant difference between Group A and B with regard to mean DAS-R anxiety levels at baseline (3.15 and 2.40, respectively), with a p-value of 0.07. Data showed a significant difference when comparing the calmness mean scores within Group A pre- and post-IV treatments (4.66 and 2.93, respectively), with a p-value 0.01. Within Group B the data revealed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-IV treatments (p<0.01, 4.33 and 2.13, respectively). Both treatment groups experienced a decrease in anxiety levels from pre to post IV treatments. Moreover, combined mean calmness scores of the 30 subjects (Group A and B) expressed in mean standard deviation showed there was a decrease from 4.50±1.31 in pre-IV treatment to 2.53±1.17 in post-IV treatment. Further investigation of the data showed that there was a significant correlation between calmness and gender; females reported higher levels of anxiety than men before and after IV treatment.
Conclusion: Results from this study support the use of IV eyewear as an effective technique to reduce anxiety in adults during oral debridement. The use of the IV eyewear was well received by all subjects. The portable, affordable and easy-to-operate IV system makes this technique an appealing approach of reducing dental anxiety.
Introduction
Dental anxiety poses significant challenges for patients and dental care providers.1-3 Evidence suggests that anxiety inhibits individuals from seeking oral care services, leading to a vicious cycle of inconsistent dental visits that may contribute to the deterioration of oral health.4-9 Dental anxiety is generally defined as nonspecific lack of ease, apprehension or negative thoughts about what may happen during a dental appointment. The specific cause of dental anxiety is unknown; however, researchers believe it results from a previous traumatic experience or from vicarious learning.10 People can develop dental anxiety at any stage of their lives, but childhood onset is often associated with a pattern of more severe and negative responses compared to onset during adolescence or adulthood.10 Non-cognitive triggers, such as fear of the unknown, previous negative experiences and perceptions of family members, friends, and the media, can increase dental anxiety.11 Cognitive factors such as vulnerability, negative expectations, patient-clinician relationships, perceptions of powerlessness and negative thoughts appear to have greater impacts on dental anxiety than do non-cognitive factors.11
Okawa et al concluded that patients reported high dental pain when their anxiety levels were also high.12 Fear of pain and negative previous experiences are reported as the primary reasons that individuals feel anxious during dental hygiene procedures.13,14 Consequently, it is important to manage dental anxiety to help reduce pain. Procedures, such as periodontal probing or scaling and root debridement, may elicit some level of pain coupled with anxiety; thus, these procedures represent scenarios that need to be controlled.8
The use of adjunctive therapy to reduce dental anxiety is not a new concept. The American Dental Association (ADA) supports the responsible use of pharmacological agents to manage anxious patients.15 Currently, general classes of drugs used to manage pain and anxiety include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, opioids, benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.15,16 Although pharmaceutical medications can help patients with anxiety, the efficacy of these therapies is not guaranteed. Non-pharmacological interventions such as patient-centered communication, bio-feedback, deep breathing exercises and music distraction also have limitations. Therefore, additional non-pharmacological techniques, such as audiovisual immersion therapy, altered reality and music distraction, are being studied to assist anxious patients. The use of ancillary therapies may help individuals have more positive overall experiences. These approaches allow patients to focus on the environment as a distraction from sensory factors such as fear, anxiety and pain.17-25 Such distraction therapy may not only comfort the patient, but help the clinician provide better care to a more relaxed individual. Although distraction techniques partially interfere with the environment, the patient and the clinician are still able to interact and communicate.
The use of distraction techniques such as immersive visualization (IV), virtual reality (VR) and audiovisual (AV) are novel approaches to managing a wide variety of conditions. Although the exact neurobiological mechanism behind distraction techniques is unclear, these systems have been shown to reduce elements such as stress, general distress, pain, anxiety and fear without interfering with treatment. For example, the use of AV distraction minimized children's discomfort and distress during dental restorative treatments.22 Similarly, AV distraction reduced adults' anxiety and fear during an oral prophylaxis and was associated with shorter appointment times.23 Likewise, immersive VR techniques were able to minimize anxiety and pain during scaling and root planning.24 All of the participants reported they had a positive experience and would use the distraction systems for future dental procedures.22-24
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a portable immersive visualization eye-wear system on adult anxiety during routine oral prophylaxis.
Methods and Materials
The study was conducted at the Dental Hygiene Research Center at Old Dominion University. Institutional review board approval was obtained prior to the beginning of the study. Participants were recruited through flyers and the university's campus wide email system. Informed consent was obtained prior to data collection.
At screening, a full mouth oral examination was performed to assess periodontal status, caries and dental calculus. One experienced dental hygienist performed all procedures in a single 1-hour appointment. Volunteers were enrolled in the study if they were: 18 years or older, scored a 9 or higher on the Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale Revised (DAS-R)26 and were generally healthy. Subjects were excluded if they presented with severe dental calculus (Class IV or V), severe periodontal disease (American Academy of Periodontology status of 3 or higher), severe dental caries (3 or more open large lesions), required antibiotic pre-medication reported the current use of anxiety medication, psychotropic drugs, or had a history of seizures or convulsive disorders, vertigo, or equilibrium disorder. Subjects were excluded if they were medically treated for anxiety. The researchers were not authorized to provide medical advice and no other mental health tests or guidance was provided. During treatment if participants felt uncomfortable with the IV eyewear or dental procedures, they were free to exit the study. Individuals who did not qualify for the study because of excessive caries, periodontal disease or dental calculus were referred to the dental hygiene care facility at the same institution for evaluation.
A split mouth design was utilized using a left/right side comparison rather than half of the subjects using the IV and the other half not because of the variation in perception of anxiety. By using this method the same individual rated their level of anxiety with and without the use of the IV system. Subjects were randomly assigned into 2 groups: Group A used IV during the first one-half of the appointment and Group B wore IV during the second one-half of the appointment.
Portable Immersive Visualization Vuzix iWear AV 920 video eyewear, which costs approximately $200, was integrated with a common smartphone (iPhone 5) to render videos (Figure 1). A small black disposable cloth barrier was attached to the top of the IV headset to minimize light and outside distractions. Subjects' peripheral vision was not constricted in an attempt to minimize any anxiety that might result from such “unknowns” as the unfamiliar treatment room and instruments.
Prior to IV treatment, subjects had the opportunity to select one of 3 videos:
A documentary about Oregon
A set of music videos
An episode of Mr. Bean, a popular comic TV series
Subjects could use a Bluetooth switch to display the video with audio, listen to the audio only, or stop the video and audio. Subjects were able to adjust the volume and could turn IV eyewear off at any time. Instructions for using the IV system were provided to all participants prior to starting the treatment.
The DAS-R was identified as a reliable instrument for assessing dental anxiety.26,27 The DAS-R was scored and recorded at screening to determine eligibility and again at baseline to validate subject's anxiety status. The DAS-R consists of 4 multiple-choice questions that measure anxiety levels related to dental visits. Total possible scores ranged from 4 to 20 points: 15 to 20 (severe anxiety), 13 to 14 (high anxiety), 9 to 12 (moderate anxiety) and 8 or less (low anxiety). The Calmness Scale was a researcher designed question: “How calm do you feel right now?” which was scored and recorded before and after IV treatment, on a 7-point Likert scale. Scores ranged from 1 (very calm) to 7 (less calm).
After the completion of the oral prophylaxis, subjects completed a post-IV opinion survey. Items were scored on a 7-point Likert scale. The survey consisted of following 3 questions:
How anxious were you during your dental treatment when wearing the Immersive Visualization eyewear(1=not anxious to 7=very anxious)?
Did you find wearing the Immersive Visualization eyewear helped to reduce your anxiety during treatment (1=not at all to 7=very much)?
Did you enjoy wearing the eyewear during the treatment (1=not enjoyable to 7=very enjoyable)?
Statistical Anaylsis
Data were entered into Microsoft Excel for Mac 2011 (Microsoft Corporation Version 14.3.5) and analyzed with SAS® 9.3 statistical software. Data were reviewed 3-times for validity and quality assurance. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA for Generalized Linear Regression Model) fits were carried out with a level of significance of 0.05.
Portable IV Eyewear System
Baseline Corah's DAS–R Anxiety Level by Group
Results
Fifty individuals were screened for the study, and 30 subjects qualified. The sample was composed of 23 females (76.7%) and 7 males (23%) with a mean age of 29.96±7.8 (ranging from 18 to 51 years). Fourteen subjects (46.7%) self-identified as Caucasian, 6 (20%) as African American, 5 (16.65%) as Hispanic and 5 (16.65%) as Asian. At baseline, 15 subjects (50%) self-reported moderate anxiety, 5 (16.7%) high anxiety and 10 (33%) severe anxiety on the DAS-R scale (Figure 2). Female subjects reported higher levels of anxiety than men, both before treatment (female 4.83±0.94 versus male 4.42±0.53) and after (female 2.83±1.70 versus male 2.00±1.15).
The DAS-R was scored at baseline to determine anxiety levels. The results showed no statistically significant differences between groups with regard to the baseline anxiety (Group A=13.33±3.15 and Group B=12.93±2.40, p=0.7).
Comparisons of calmness mean scores are presented in Table I. Group A used the IV system during the right side of treatment while Group B used the IV system during the left side of treatment. Within Group A, the ANOVA fit showed a statistically significant difference in calmness (p<0.01) between pre (4.66±1.04) and post (2.93±1.22) in IV use. Likewise, within Group B the fit revealed a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) between pre (4.33±1.54) and post (2.13±0.99) in calmness with IV treatment. Results indicate that the use of IV system during oral debridement had a positive effect in lowering anxiety levels in the adult population. Regardless of whether subjects started wearing the IV system at the beginning of the appointment (Group A), or as the clinician switched sides (Group B), anxiety was reduced. Combined calmness mean scores data of Group A and Group B showed a decrease from 4.50±1.31 pre IV treatment to 2.53±1.17 post treatment, which indicates all participants benefitted.
Prior to oral prophylaxis, subjects had the opportunity to choose the type of video they wanted to watch: 15 (50%) chose the documentary, 10 (33%) subjects opted for the music videos and 5 (17%) chose the comic TV show. None of the participants elected to stop the video or audio while wearing IV system.
Results obtained from the Post IV Opinion survey are displayed in Table II. Subjects responded positively to wearing the IV eyewear system and they felt it helped to reduce their level of anxiety. During post treatment debriefing, all the subjects reported that wearing the IV eyewear was enjoyable and did not interfere with treatment procedures. The clinician also reported that the IV system did not interfere with treatment.
Discussion
Patients with dental anxiety may exhibit behaviors that make rendering treatment difficult and may keep them from seeking oral care, thus contributing to the deterioration of their oral health. The aim of this study was to determine whether a portable IV eyewear system could reduce anxiety in adult patients during oral prophylaxis treatment. Previous investigations have offered patients the use of head mounted AV and music distraction during dental and dental hygiene procedures with similarly positive experiences.18,19,21-24 IV was determined to be a safe, economical, easy-to-use, non-pharmacological approach to short-term reduction of dental anxiety. The present study is in line with other studies that have shown females are more prevalent to report or experience dental anxiety and fear when compared to the male population.1-4,8,11,14,28 The authors also postulate that perhaps more women seek out dental treatment than men and are more comfortable in reporting their anxiety and fear.
Comparison of Mean Calmness Scores Pre- and Post-Treatment by Side and Group
Comparison of Mean Post–IV Treatment Opinion Scores
Results from the Calmness Scale showed Group A to be slightly more anxious compared to Group B. One possible explanation could be that Group A started with higher mean calmness scores compared to group B (4.6 and 4.3 respectively). From the study design, Group A started using the IV eyewear in the beginning of the appointment and was not wearing the IV on the second half of the study. Both groups showed statistically significant differences in anxiety levels between pre- and post-IV eyewear use. Group B's level of anxiety did not change significantly during the first half of the treatment without the use of IV, but was more than 50% lower after the IV treatment. Several other confounding factors could be the reason for such disparities. One factor may be that Group A enrolled a higher ratio of women (n=13) compared to men (n=2) and included more individuals with severe anxiety (n=6) compared to Group B (n=4).
Nausea has been reported as one of the possible side effects of virtual reality and virtual immersion;29 however, in the present study, none of the subjects experienced this side effect. Two subjects reported that the IV equipment was “heavy” and “uncomfortable,” and 1 subject reported missing the patient-clinician interaction during the procedure, but all subjects reported that they would wear the IV system during dental care if available. In future studies, using a microphone connected to the IV system headset is recommended to provide better communication between the patient and the clinician.
Study Limitations
Although the sample size was relatively small, information gathered in this study can be used to validate previous research and to provide support for future studies. Neither the clinician nor the subjects were blinded to the treatment; due to design study characteristics, this was not feasible. There is some evidence that anxiety may influence blood pressure and heart rate during dental treatment.23,30 The present study did not include monitoring vital signs although this may be a consideration for other research. Future studies should also consider expanding the questionnaire to include age of anxiety onset since literature suggests that variations occur among age of traumatic dental experience and management techniques.10 The portable IV system used in this study did not constrict the patient's peripheral vision because we believed that leaving some peripheral vision may provide additional comfort to the subjects. It is also important to note that researchers relied on participants' self-reported levels of anxiety and calmness. The use of additional screening tools to identify patients who are anxious may merit further investigation.
Conclusion
Evidence in the literature indicates that dental anxiety is a very real problem that can complicate oral care or prevent individuals from seeking dental services all together. Because the portable IV system used in this study operates with a common smartphone and an affordable head-mount display, this state-of-the-art technology has the potential to become widely adopted as a distraction technique. Results from this study support the use of IV eyewear as an effective distraction technique to help decrease or manage short-term anxiety in adult patients during routine oral debridement.
Footnotes
Carmelo Padrino-Barrios, BSDH, MS, Works in private practice in Oakton, Virginia. Gayle McCombs, RDH, MS, is a University Professor and graduate faculty at the School of Dental Hygiene, Old Dominion University. Norou Diawara, PhD, is an associate professor and the statistics graduate program director in the Mathematics and Statistics department at Old Dominion University. Gianluca De Leo, PhD, MBA, is the Chair of the Clinical and Digital Health Sciences department at Augusta University.
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Clinical Dental Hygiene Care: Investigate how dental hygienists use emerging science to reduce risk in susceptible patients (risk reduction strategies).
- Copyright © 2015 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
