Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the impact of Virtual Reality (VR) distraction technique on pain and anxiety in 5–8-year-old children, during short invasive dental procedures. Study design: 120 children, aged 5–8 years, scoring less than 25 on the SCARED questionnaire, scheduled to undergo short invasive dental procedures, were randomly divided into a control (without VR distraction) and study group (with VR distraction) of 60 each. State anxiety levels were assessed in the children from both groups using revised version of Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale, before and after dental treatment. Pain perceived during treatment was assessed using Wong Baker Faces pain rating scale at the end of treatment. Salivary cortisol levels were also assessed before, during and after the dental procedure, in all children. Results: We observed a significant reduction in pain perception and state anxiety in children, using VR distraction (p<0.001, p=0.002). The decrease in salivary cortisol levels was significantly greater in children using VR distraction (p<0.001). Conclusion: Virtual Reality distraction can be used as a successful behavior modification method in children undergoing short invasive dental treatments.

A bstract Aim and objective To analyze the impact of Indian instrumental music on children with intellectual disability (mild) exhibiting dental anxiety during dental procedures using electrical skin resistance measured by a biofeedback machine. Materials and methods A total of 20 children of 6–14 years having an intellectual disability (mild) were randomly divided into two groups comprising of 10 each. The study was carried out in a cross-over design, with and without music distraction in two appointments spaced out at a gap of 1 month. The children were subjected to a dental examination, oral prophylaxis, and auditory operative stimuli in both appointments. The electrical skin resistance during each procedure was measured using a galvanic skin response (GSR) biofeedback machine and the values were statistically analyzed using paired and unpaired t -tests. Results A statistically significant increase in electrical resistance was observed during music distraction, which indicated an anxiety reduction when music distraction was employed. Conclusion The increased electrical skin resistance due to low anxiety proves the positive impact of music distraction in intellectually disabled children. Clinical significance Music can be employed as a distraction technique to reduce anxiety in intellectually disabled children. How to cite this article Gowdham G, Shetty AA, Hegde A, et al. Impact of Music Distraction on Dental Anxiety in Children Having Intellectual Disability. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(1):170–174.

Purpose: Unmet oral health needs affect the quality of life of individuals, especially if they are already at a disadvantage like children with special health care needs. Strategies to mitigate these disparities in India's diverse healthcare settings have hitherto been largely ineffective. This study was aimed to assess the utilisation and barriers to the use of dental health services among children with special health care needs, against the background of a coordinated healthcare programme implemented in Nitte

The COVID‐19 pandemic has seen a sudden increase in the demand for healthcare organizations to improve their utilization of digital platforms to supplement the reach of conventional healthcare services. In the wake of this crisis, dentistry is on the cusp of a major overhaul, promoting preventive practices and a rapid shift to teledentistry platforms. A random push to adapt to teledentistry platforms may cause the straining of available resources and manpower, especially in sectors involved in the care of vulnerable population groups like children, individuals with special needs and those in the low socioeconomic strata. It is thus advisable to make this transition systematically, beginning with an analysis of feasibility, done periodically, to maximize efficiency. Described in this article is a system to facilitate this transition by utilizing a matrix model, laying foundation for assessment of feasibility based on target population characteristics. It calls for the improvement of population characteristics to reduce strain on the healthcare sector using key indicators of the model, paired against potential barriers, and is described using a case study from the field.

Background Children with visual impairment are at a higher risk for developing dental disease, and imbalances in the antioxidant levels may play an important role in the development and management of oral diseases. Aim Our aim was to evaluate and compare the oral health status and salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in children with and without visual impairment. Methods Oral health was evaluated among 6 to 11 years old children with and without visual impairment (50 each) using World Health Organization oral health assessment form for caries prevalence, gingival health, and oral hygiene levels. Unstimulated saliva was collected and assayed for TAC using the phosphomolybdic method. Statistical Analysis The data collected were tabulated, and the results, thus, obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using EZR software—version 1.37. The variables between the two groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. A correlation test was done using Spearman's correlation test. Results The mean TAC levels among children with and without visual impairment were 49.17 (±25.702) and 156.67 (±56.031) µg/mL, respectively, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The children with visual impairment showed a significantly higher number of carious lesions compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Oral hygiene status and gingival health status were significantly poorer in children with visual impairments than the children in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions Oral health was significantly poorer, and salivary TAC levels were significantly lower in children with visual impairment. There may be an inverse correlation between salivary TAC and oral health status. Clinical Significance: Since these children have been shown to have poorer oral health status, a baseline assessment of their salivary antioxidant capacity may indicate the need to reinforce oral care efforts and supplement them using an antioxidant-rich diet.