VR headsets may calm anxious kids with intellectual disabilities during dental visits
NCT ID NCT07249359
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether wearing a virtual reality headset during dental treatment could reduce anxiety in children aged 11-15 with mild intellectual disability. Fifty-six children with moderate dental anxiety were randomly assigned to either VR distraction or watching a cartoon on a screen. The goal was to see if more children could complete their dental procedure calmly and successfully. The results could point to a drug-free way to make dental visits less stressful for this group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual reality distraction via Meta Quest 3 headset
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could give dentists a simple, non-drug tool to help children with intellectual disabilities feel calmer during dental procedures.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with only 56 participants. The results may not apply to all children or settings, and VR headsets might not be practical in every dental office.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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IRCCS Ass. Oasi Maria SS
Troina, EN, 94018, Italy
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