Therapy Dogs for Childhood Dental Anxiety

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

Disqualifiers: Allergy to dogs, Dental trauma, Developmental delays, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a certified therapy dog in the room during dental procedures can calm children and improve their behavior. Researchers aim to determine if parents perceive the therapy dog as helpful and whether the dog affects the cleanliness of the treatment room. Children aged 3-7 who require dental work with an injection and are patients at the Medical University of South Carolina may be suitable candidates, especially if their parents can attend the appointment. All participants will receive standard dental care, but some will also have a therapy dog present to compare results with those who do not. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for families to contribute to innovative research that could enhance dental experiences for children.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that therapy dogs are safe for use in pediatric dental settings?

Research has shown that therapy dogs during dental visits are generally safe. Studies have found that therapy dogs can significantly reduce anxiety and increase patient comfort without causing harm. For example, patients with therapy dogs nearby reported feeling less pain and had lower heart rates. Another study found that therapy dogs can lower dental anxiety and even reduce blood pressure.

These findings suggest that therapy dogs are well-accepted and provide emotional benefits during dental visits. No reports of serious problems have been linked to therapy dogs in these settings. Overall, therapy dogs appear to be a safe and helpful addition to dental procedures for children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard treatments for childhood dental anxiety, which often involve medication or behavioral therapy, therapy dogs offer a unique and comforting presence during dental procedures. This approach is different because it introduces a live, certified therapy dog into the treatment room, providing emotional support and potentially reducing stress naturally. Researchers are excited about this method because it could provide a drug-free, non-invasive alternative for managing anxiety, making dental visits less daunting for kids.

What evidence suggests that the presence of a therapy dog is effective for reducing childhood dental anxiety?

Research has shown that therapy dogs can help reduce anxiety in children during dental visits. In this trial, one group of participants will have a certified therapy dog present in the treatment room throughout the procedure. Studies have found that having a therapy dog present can lower anxiety and improve behavior in young dental patients. One study found that therapy dogs effectively manage anxiety during these visits. Another study suggested that therapy dogs can also help lessen the feeling of pain in children undergoing dental or medical treatments. These findings support the idea that therapy dogs could make dental visits less stressful for children by creating a calming atmosphere. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Julie L Marshall, PhD

Principal Investigator

James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children aged 3-7 who are dental patients at the Medical University of South Carolina, with no severe medical conditions or allergies to dogs. They must need a dental procedure under local anesthesia lasting less than an hour and have a parent available during treatment.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 3 and 7 years old.

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

Exclusion Criteria

Patients whose cases are considered emergencies

Known allergy to dogs or other animals

Past history of animal bites or traumatic experience with a dog

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo dental procedures with or without the presence of a certified therapy dog to assess anxiety and behavior

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Therapy Dog

Trial Overview The study tests if having a therapy dog in the room during pediatric dental procedures can reduce anxiety and improve behavior. It compares kids getting standard care with those accompanied by a therapy dog, measuring heart rate, oxygen levels, nitrous oxide use, and behavior scores.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Therapy Dog Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will have a certified therapy dog present in the treatment room throughout the procedure. Prior to the procedure, the participant will be briefly introduced to the therapy dog and handler, who will remain in the room until the end of the procedure.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group receives standard of care and does not have a therapy dog present in the room during their treatment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

994

Recruited

7,408,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 20 children undergoing dental treatment, dog-assisted therapy (AAT) significantly reduced heart rates, indicating lower anxiety levels during procedures compared to a control group that did not receive AAT.

While the control group experienced increased anxiety before and after treatment, the AAT group maintained stable anxiety levels, suggesting that AAT could be an effective method for managing anxiety in pediatric dental care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dog-assisted therapy for control of anxiety in pediatric dentistry. Pinheiro, SL., Silva, C., Luiz, L., et al.[2023]

A study involving 16 anxious children aged 6 to 12 showed that the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental examinations significantly improved patient compliance and satisfaction, with all participants completing their visits successfully.

Salivary cortisol levels, an indicator of stress, decreased more in the presence of the therapy dog (30% reduction) compared to when the dog was absent (20% reduction), suggesting that therapy dogs can help reduce anxiety in pediatric dental patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intraoral clinical examinations of pediatric patients with anticipatory anxiety and situational fear facilitated by therapy dog assistance: A pilot RCT. Gussgard, AM., Carlstedt, K., Meirik, M.[2023]

A systematic review of three studies involving 146 children found no significant evidence that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) reduces anxiety during dental treatments, as the anxiety levels were similar whether AAT was present or not.

The studies had a high risk of bias, particularly in randomization and outcome measurement, indicating a need for more rigorous research with larger sample sizes to better assess the efficacy of AAT in reducing anxiety in children during dental care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does use of animal therapy during dental care help to reduce anxiety in children and adolescents? A systematic review. Ribeiro, CDPV., Alves, JB., Kominami, PA., et al.[2023]

Dental therapy dogs can help reduce anxiety in patients during dental visits, but there are potential health and safety risks for the dogs in the clinic environment, including allergies, sharps injuries, and stress from erratic patient behavior.

Implementing best practices, such as training for both clinic staff and dog handlers, can minimize these risks and ensure a safer experience for therapy dogs in dental settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dog-assisted therapy in the dental clinic. Part B. Hazards and assessment of potential risks to the health and safety of the dental therapy dog. Gussgard, AM., Weese, JS., Hensten, A., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 102 children aged 5 to 10 undergoing simple dental procedures, the presence of a therapy dog significantly reduced dental anxiety, as measured by pulse rate and anxiety rating scales (p < 0.001).

Animal-assisted therapy not only helps in managing anxiety during dental visits but also shows promise for long-term behavior management and is well-accepted by both children and their parents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of dental anxiety in children between 5 and 10 years of age in the presence of a therapy dog: a randomized controlled clinical study. Thakkar, TK., Naik, SN., Dixit, UB.[2021]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40775655/

Effects of animal-assisted therapy on dental anxiety, behavior ... To identify optimal outcome measures for evaluating AAT in pediatric dental contexts, a randomized controlled trial protocol was developed.

2. trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-025-08970-z

Effects of animal-assisted therapy on dental anxiety, behavior ... To identify optimal outcome measures for evaluating AAT in pediatric dental contexts, a randomized controlled trial protocol was developed.

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40467121/

Evaluating effects of animal-assisted therapy on pediatric ... AAT may be an effective therapy for alleviating anxiety and pain in pediatric dental patients and warrants additional study.

4. jocpd.com jocpd.com/articles/10.22514/jocpd.2023.080

Dog-assisted therapy for control of anxiety in pediatric ... The aim of the present study was to evaluate the applicability of dog-assisted therapy to control anxiety during pediatric dental treatment.

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06468111

Dog-Assisted Therapy in Children During Blood or Dental ... The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) during blood extraction or dental procedures in a Primary Care ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6720307/

Dog-Assisted Therapy and Dental Anxiety: A Pilot Study This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dog-assisted therapy for individuals with a history of anxiety related to dental visits.

7. jada.ada.org jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(25)00170-9/fulltext

Evaluating effects of animal-assisted therapy on pediatric ... AAT participants reported less pain, lower heart rates, and longer relaxed lower body durations compared to control groups, suggesting AAT may be effective.

8. dentistry.llu.edu dentistry.llu.edu/sites/dentistry.llu.edu/files/2024-12/2023-therapy-dog.pdf

Impact of the Use of Therapy Dogs in the Dental Office Therapy dogs in dental offices decrease patient anxiety, increase comfort, and reduce blood pressure and heart rate, with studies showing significant impact.