JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Oral disease remains a global public health concern, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Adults with disability or health conditions face additional barriers to dental care, including physical accessibility, communication challenges, and heightened anxiety. These factors contribute to care avoidance and poorer oral health outcomes. While virtual reality (VR) has shown promise in reducing procedural anxiety in paediatric and private dental settings, its application in adult public dentistry, particularly for people with disabilities, remains underexplored.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of SmileyScope™, a TGA-approved head-mounted VR headset, in reducing dental anxiety and enhancing care experiences for adults with disability health conditions in public dental clinics.

Methods:

A mixed-methods convergent design will be implemented across community dental sites in Victoria, Australia. Fifty adult patients and up to ten dental staff will be recruited. Primary feasibility signals include recruitment rate (≥60% consent), completion rate (≥80% SUS completion), and usability threshold (mean SUS ≥68). The primary analysis will be descriptive with 95% confidence intervals reported. Quantitative data will be collected using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for willingness, the System Usability Scale (SUS), and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews will be thematically analysed. The study is co-designed with a disability advocate and integrates lived experience throughout all phases, including recruitment, evaluation, and dissemination.

Results:

The study will generate foundational evidence on the feasibility of integrating VR into routine dental care for adults who experience disability or health conditions. It will produce an implementation toolkit with costed solutions for common integration challenges, including staff training and accessibility modifications.

Conclusions:

This protocol outlines a feasibility study that will inform scalable models for VR integration in public dental services. The findings will contribute to improved oral health equity and patient-centred care, advancing the evidence base for inclusive digital health innovation in dentistry.