Video games distract kids from
pain during dental procedures

A study conducted by the Ajman University of Science and Technology among 60 healthy children aged between five and 11 years with no previous dental experience proved that audiovisual distraction and use of video games was effective in reducing pain reaction in clinical settings.

In a poster presentation during a recently held dental conference, Dr Yasmin Mohammed and Dr Huda Ahmed who conducted the study said the 
trial was done to compare the reaction of children towards local anaesthesia (given by injection) by use of AV distraction versus other routine local anaesthesia techniques.

The presentation said the AV distraction is effective in reducing pain reaction in a clinical setting but it should be used in routine local anaesthetic procedures for more effective results.

“Distraction is a tactic designed to divert a patient’s attention away from the current behaviour to focus their interest in something else such as video game or any other audiovisual distraction,” said the presentation.

Other techniques that dentists in the country are using to distract patients, especially children, are slow needle insertion, hypnosis, topical anaesthesia, and computer simulations.

“This is an effective method that is now being used quite commonly the world over,” agreed a Sharjah-based dentist, Nilofer Kazmi. “Dentists are also using methods such as decorating their clinics with toys or colours and cartoon characters that can attract children and calm them before the procedure,” she added. To manage difficult children, several clinics also offer treatment under general anaesthesia.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com