LINC Research Council Members Awarded Grant from The Center for Global and Community Oral Health
The LINC Interprofessional Research Council at UT Health San Antonio has been awarded funding for Virtual Tranquility, an innovative digital health initiative using immersive virtual reality to support emotional wellness and reduce dental anxiety in adult and older adult populations. Preoperative dental anxiety is a well-recognized barrier to care, frequently contributing to treatment avoidance, heightened procedural stress, and poorer oral health outcomes, particularly among aging and medically complex patients. The project received a competitive internal funding award from the Center for Global and Community Oral Health at UT Health San Antonio.
Led by Dr. Noorpreet Kaur, with interprofessional leadership from Dr. Rebecca Moote, the project integrates a brief 360-degree virtual reality experience with behavioral support to enhance patient preparedness and comfort prior to dental procedures. The intervention leverages innovative digital health tools, including immersive VR technology, to facilitate patient-centered preoperative preparation. The VR experience will be developed as a short, accessible 360-degree video simulating a routine dental visit and will be informed by evidence-based digital health principles to promote engagement, accessibility, and scalability across clinical settings. Together, these efforts underscore the value of interprofessional collaboration and digital innovation in advancing patient-centered care for aging and medically complex populations. This pilot project will generate foundational data to support future extramural funding and the broader application of digital health interventions in behavioral and aging-focused care.
Funding for this project was awarded by the Center for Global and Community Oral Health at UT Health San Antonio, which is dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable approaches to improving oral health locally and globally. The project is supported by an interprofessional team that includes Dr. Noorpreet Kaur, Dr. Annetty Soto, Dr. Rebecca Moote, Dr. Suman Challa, and Dr. Vinaya Kundapur.