Anxiety-free Public Dentistry for Adults with Disability: A Virtual Reality Feasibility Study

• Trung Dung Bui, Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
• Libby Callaway, Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
• Charmine Hartel, Associate Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
• Kadek Satriadi, Lecturer, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University
• Tanner Person, Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
• Wei Wang, Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
• Alice Urban, BAppSci, Director of Integrated Care and Dental, Peninsula Health
• Fiona McAlinden, MBM, Project Manager, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
• Jonathan Bredin, Jonathan Bredin Inc., West Melbourne

This project tests whether VR can make dental visits less stressful for adults with disability.

Some people avoid dental care because the clinic can feel painful, confusing, noisy, or overwhelming.

The study will test SmileyScope™, a low-cost VR headset, in adult dental settings. The headset may help distract people and reduce anxiety during care.

The project brings together Monash, Peninsula Health Dental Services, a disability advocate, and Healthy Future Hub partners.

• Test whether VR is easy to use in public dental care.
• Study whether it helps reduce anxiety.
• Include lived experience and disability knowledge.
• Create evidence for more accessible dental care.

This research is supported by the Monash Business School Interdisciplinary Research Seed Fund and the Monash Partners STAR Fellowship for Primary Care Research.

Study protocol: Anxiety-free Public Dentistry for Adults with Disability: Protocol for a Head-Mounted Virtual Reality study to see whether it can work in practice