A gentle touch: could acupressure or hand massage calm kids' dental fears?

NCT ID NCT07779837

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Mansoura University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.

First seen Aug 21, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether acupressure or hand massage, when added to standard behavioral guidance, can lower anxiety in children aged 4 to 8 receiving dental anesthetic injections. Anxiety is measured using a picture-based scale and heart rate before, during, and after the injection. The study compares these techniques against routine care to see if they offer a simple, non-drug way to help children feel calmer at the dentist.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: acupressure and hand massage
What this could lead to: If effective, these simple, drug-free techniques could offer a gentle way to reduce anxiety in children during dental procedures.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial, and results may not apply to all children. The techniques may not significantly reduce anxiety compared to standard care.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

135 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 2024

Finished

Dec 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

4 to 8 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * healthy child 4 years - 8 years No previous dental experience the treatment requires injections Exclusion Criteria: * Has previous dental experience any medical disease skin disease of hands or ears

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DENTAL ANXIETY FEAR

Contacts and locations

Locations

Faculty of Pediatric Dentistry

Al Mansurah, Egypt

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