Surgical technique
tooth
LOCAL INFILTRATION
After local infiltration anesthesia, the patients were placed in a supine position and were fitted with a patient monitor and a head-mounted display (Oculus Go 32 GB, Oculus VR, Menlo Park, CA). Before the impacted third molar extraction started, they experienced a VR presentation for a short period and were asked to confirm that they were not feeling uncomfortable or disturbed. The extractions were conducted by three board-certified oral surgeons. The following procedure is used for the extraction of an impacted third molar. First, a gingival incision is made for extraction. The subperiosteal mucoperiosteal flap is detached and the mandibular cortical bone is clarified. After removing the bone around the impacted wisdom tooth and clarifying the crown of the tooth, the crown and root of the tooth are divided with a cutting bar. After splitting, the crown and root are dislocated and removed respectively. After curettage of the extraction socket, the mucoperiosteal flap is restored to its original position and sutured to complete the procedure.It was explained to the patients that should they feel uncomfortable or disturbed because of the VR during the extraction, the procedure would immediately be halted, and the VR removed. After the extraction was complete, the VR was removed, hemostasis was confirmed, and the procedure was concluded.