How Virtual Reality and Relaxation Exercises Shape Pain, Sleep, Kinesiophobia and Anxiety Over Time After Impacted Third Molar Surgery?: A Randomized Controlled Study

ABSTRACT Background Surgical extraction of Impacted Third Molar (ITM) is one of the most frequently performed oral surgical procedures. The effects of relaxation exercises and VR after ITM surgery remain underinvestigated. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of relaxation exercises and VR on pain, sleep quality, kinesiophobia, and anxiety levels following ITM surgery. Methods This study included 36 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 with mandibular third molars in Class 2 position B, according to the Pell and Gregory classification. All third molar extractions were performed under local anaesthesia. Participants in the Relaxation Exercise Group (G1) received relaxation exercises and patient education; participants in the Relaxation Exercise + VR Group (G2) received relaxation exercises, VR and patient education; and participants in the Control Group (G3) received patient education only. We assessed pain levels using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), kinesiophobia levels using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular Disorders, sleep quality using the Visual Analog Sleep Scale, and anxiety levels using the State subscale of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI‐S). The same researcher performed assessments three times: immediately after ITM extraction and on postoperative days 2 and 7. Results On postoperative days 2 and 7, the three groups differed significantly in VAS and STAI‐S scores ( p   Conclusion Relaxation exercises, alone or combined with VR, appear to be viable approaches for managing pain and anxiety after ITM surgery and may represent a promising avenue for future rehabilitation research. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT06917989