Status:

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Do Therapy Dogs Improve Behavior and Reduce Anxiety in Pediatric Dental Patients?

Lead Sponsor:

Medical University of South Carolina

Conditions:

Therapy Animals

Dental Anxiety

Eligibility:

All Genders

3-7 years

Phase:

NA

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess whether the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental procedures that require an injection reduces anxiety and improves behavior in pediatric denta...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Age 3-7
  • Children who are patients at the Medical University of South Carolina Department of Pediatric Dentistry
  • Children classified as category 1 or 2 according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification
  • Children whose parents/guardians are willing to consent to the child participating in the study
  • Availability of parent to be present during treatment
  • Children who require further care that includes the injection of a local anesthetic and whose procedure will take less than one hour

Exclusion

  • Patients whose cases are considered emergencies
  • Patients who are classified as category 3 or higher according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (6)
  • If patient's medical status has worsened since initial evaluation
  • Known allergy to dogs or other animals
  • Past history of dental trauma
  • Past history of animal bites or traumatic experience with a dog
  • Emotional or developmental delays
  • If, on the day of the treatment, patient presents with fever or other illness

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

September 13 2023

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ESTIMATED

End Date :

January 1 2026

Estimated Enrollment :

70 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT06057090

Start Date

September 13 2023

End Date

January 1 2026

Last Update

August 27 2025

Active Locations (1)

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Medical University of South Carolina Pediatric Dental Clinic

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425