Dentists and orthodontists have been trying to distract their patients from the uncomfortable and often painful work of dental care for years, especially for longer appointments.
Since the early 2000s, goggle-like headsets and noise-canceling headphones have given patients the ability to zone out as they watch a movie and ignore the whirs and scrapes of dental care tools.
Now, researchers at Paperplane Therapeutics, a Montréal-based startup, have raised $1.5 million CAD ($1.06 million USD) in seed funding to develop virtual reality games for patients.
The pre-loaded games are designed to keep children distracted by friendly virtual monsters, while the company’s “Headstill” system keeps patients’ heads stable while they play — a key component when dealing with dental tools or needles.
Paperplane is already working with 30 dental clinics and 20 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, and SickKids, with plans to expand across North America and Europe.
“As an emergency physician, I have seen firsthand the lack of options available for managing pain and anxiety,” Paperplane co-founder and CEO Dr. Jean-Simon Fortin said in a statement.
“Today, I’m proud to see our VR technology filling that gap, providing healthcare professionals with a more effective way to support their patients.”
“Paperplane is redefining how we approach pain and anxiety management in healthcare,” said Michael Goodman of Glen Ventures, which helped fund the project. “Their VR solutions not only enhance patient comfort but also contribute to more efficient clinical workflows. We are proud to support a company that is raising the standard of patient care while pushing the boundaries of medical innovation.”
Header image via Paperplane Therapeutics
