Gaming at the Dentist's, serious game design for pain and discomfort distraction
Themes: Life Science & Health, Software technology & Intelligent systems
![](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/Websections/Dig-it%20Research%20Exhibition/Cartoons/Gaming%20at%20the%20Dentists-47_cartoon.jpg)
Early lab scale demonstration
![](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/2/f/csm_3-9-status_38bd13bb4c.png)
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
Why?
Decrease patient discomfort caused by anxiety during dentist treatment by reducing their perceived pain, while at the same time, improve regularity of dentist visits, and reduce duration of critical treatments.
How?
By deploying virtual reality within an immersive game environment especially developed for this purpose. Serious game design principles are carefully applied to create a customized experience for this specific context.
When?
Achieving a more personalised and humane health care by reducing anxiety that saves practitioners time and money.
Dr. ir. Rafael Bidarra