Overview

The purpose of this study is to compare an intervention for dental fear to the usual approach (i.e., whatever your dentist typically does to help you manage fear) in reducing patient fear and making dentist appointments more tolerable. The dental fear intervention (called neVR Fear the Dentist™) has two separate steps. Step 1 involves using a mobile app that is based on research-backed approaches to handling dental fear on your smartphone or device. Step 2 is a 1-hour self-administered virtual reality intervention to be completed in the dental office.

This is a randomized study. Participants will be randomized to either the intervention group or an active control.

Investigators hypothesize that participants in the intervention condition will show greater declines in self-reported dental fear and improved oral health-related quality of life during post-treatment and follow-up period.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Be at least 13 years of age
2. Report dental fear of 4 or higher on a scale of 0-10 on the Gatchel dental fear item
3. Be able and willing to comply with study procedures
4. Provide a signed and dated informed consent form an/or assent form (if applicable)
5. Proficient in English because the intervention is in English
6. Have access to a smartphone or tablet
7. Attending dental appointments at one of our participating dental practices.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Hearing or visual impairment such as stereoscopy blindness or nystagmus
2. Known mental disorders such as psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), developmental or intellectual disability, cognitive impairment
3. Known balance disorders such as vertigo and cybersickness
4. Previous history of epileptic seizures
5. A history of cardiac problems
6. Are in pain, require urgent care, or whose necessary treatment will be delayed by participating in the study