VR goggles beat laughing gas? new study tests pain relief for kids at dentist
NCT ID NCT05890898
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compared using virtual reality (VR) goggles versus nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help children aged 4 to 12 feel less pain and anxiety during dental procedures like fillings and tooth extractions. Sixty-two children each had two dental visits, using VR in one and nitrous oxide in the other. Researchers measured pain using standard scales to see if VR works as well as the standard gas.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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62 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2023
- Finished
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Nov 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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4 to 12 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female pediatric dental patients age 4-12 years * Require two restorative procedures that includes injection of anesthesia * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification 1 or 2 Exclusion Criteria: * Have health issues that prevent use of VR Oculus headset, * Hypersensitivity to audio-visual devices that can lead to seizures * ASA physical status classification 3 or 4
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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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Geisinger
Danville, Pennsylvania, 17822, United States
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