Use of Augmented Reality Glasses and Noise-Cancelling Headphones to Reduce Dental Anxiety in Adult Patients

About this study

This study investigates whether new audiovisual technologies can help reduce anxiety and stress experienced by adult patients during dental procedures. Dental fear and anxiety are common barriers to receiving proper oral care. This randomized controlled trial aims to explore whether the use of specific devices-augmented reality (AR) glasses and noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones-can improve patient comfort and decrease physiological signs of stress during dental treatment. Participants in this study will undergo a standard dental procedure. In addition, they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group (no audiovisual intervention), a group using ANC headphones that play relaxing music during the procedure, or a group using AR glasses that display relaxing visual scenes along with the same music. Before the procedure, each participant will complete a psychological questionnaire (STAI) to assess their level of anxiety. During the procedure, physiological stress will be monitored using sensors that track parameters such as skin conductance (GSR) and heart rate. After the treatment, patients will be asked to rate their pain level and describe their experience with or without the audiovisual intervention. The goal is to better understand the effectiveness of non-pharmacological methods in reducing anxiety and stress in adult dental patients. Participation in the study is entirely voluntary and will not affect the quality or availability of dental care. Patients may withdraw at any time without consequences. The study also collects basic demographic information and patient feedback to evaluate potential factors that may influence anxiety levels. By testing new immersive tools such as AR glasses and ANC headphones in a real clinical setting, this research may contribute to improving patient well-being and enhancing the dental care experience.

Sponsor: Medical University of Warsaw