Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download
ePaper created 2017-09-06, 09:11:22 | version 1.38.0
trends & applications virtual reality Virtual reality and orthodontics: A new patient experience Author: Dr Yassine Harichane, Canada Imagine the following scenario: your patient ar- rives, both relaxed and calm, at your practice. Although the patient is visiting the practice for the first time, he is familiar with it and knows its interior well. Without further introduction, the patient takes a seat in the dental chair, and the orthodontic procedure is performed quickly and comfortably with patient compliance. There are no complications or tension, and the treatment is easily achieved. Imagine such a soothing and comfortable environment in which to treat pa- tients. Now imagine this very same scenario through the eyes of the patient. One can see that it could actually be a comfortable experience. This is not some hypothetical futuristic utopia; this is actually happening now, and the afore- mentioned points are some of the many benefits of virtual reality (VR). VR is a process that entails immersing the viewer in a 360° environment. By turning his head left, right, up or down, the patient can visualise a real or an artificial environment. The spectator could be immersed in the Caribbean Sea sur- rounded by corals or in a Canadian forest (Fig. 1). The operation is simple: the participant wears a lightweight and comfortable headset in which a smartphone is inserted (Fig. 2). Owing to the gy- roscopic sensors, the smartphone will project a matching image corresponding to the move- ments. If the patient raises his head, he will see the sky or the ceiling, and if he lowers his head he will see his feet. This technique is made possible by a 360° shot using a dedicated camera (Fig. 3) and simple editing software (Fig. 4). The result is simply astonishing as we find ourselves pro- jected into a place that may vary from actual tourist sites to virtual scenarios as in video games. The applications in orthodontics are numerous and at present we are exploiting only a tiny part of its potential functions. The possibilities might be endless. Hence, it might become possible for the patient to visit the dental ofice from his home, where he can visualise the front desk, admire the treatment rooms or view the cleanliness of the sterilisation room (Fig. 5). The aim is to ofer a virtual visit of the practice to allow the patient to choose a quality clinic, as well as familiarise him- self with the space before his first appointment. Once physically seated in the chair, the patient can wear the VR headset during the treatment and visualise a restful environment of his choos- ing. From here on, it is solely a matter of prefer- ence, as the patient might enjoy the beach, a VR video of Honolulu, or maybe even climbing a mountain. Any VR video is acceptable, as long as it achieves its purpose: calming the patient during a treatment session. Thus, everything becomes less tense, and the patient is relaxed. This might also be convenient for the dentist, as he can then execute whatever treatment is neces- sary as quickly and eficiently as possible. Convincing the patient to undertake an or- thodontic treatment is one thing, convincing him to follow the relevant recommendations is an- other. Obtaining patient compliance is not easy, especially in the case of younger patients. Fur- thermore, dentists have an unfortunate notori- ous association with pain and sufering, which might induce anxiety in a patient. Again, VR can be applied here to divert the attention of the most dynamic patients. Another aspect worthy of mention regarding the benefits is the intellectual retention of instructions on hygiene procedures, for example, which might be dependent on sup- 06 ortho 2/2017