The Effect of Virtual Reality on Anxiety and Pain in Adult Dental Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

During the process of oral diagnosis and treatment, patients often experience varying degrees of anxiety and pain. The focus of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of virtual reality (VR) technology in reducing anxiety and pain among adult patients undergoing dental procedures.

The researchers conducted detailed searches of a total of five databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase Databases, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. From the establishment of the library to May 25, 2026. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including parallel-group and crossover designs were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 1 tool. Primary outcomes were anxiety and pain scores; secondary outcomes included heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Subgroup and meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4.1.

Through screening 1,435 articles, 12 and 9 studies were ultimately included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, involving 1,272 patients. A meta-analysis indicates that compared with conventional intervention, VR as an intervention can significantly reduce the anxiety (SMD=-0.69, 95%CI [-1.16,-0.22], P=0.004), pain (MD=-0.17, 95%CI [-0.33,-0.01], P=0.03) and heart rate (MD = -5.11, 95% CI = -9.83, -0.38, P = 0.03) in adult patients undergoing dental treatment.

This meta-analysis demonstrates that virtual reality intervention can significantly reduce anxiety, pain, and heart rate in adults undergoing dental treatment, but has no significant effect on blood pressure and oxygen saturation. However, due to high heterogeneity and methodological limitations in the included studies, the evidence remains limited. Future high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols are warranted to strengthen the evidence base and confirm the effectiveness of VR in adult dental populations.