Play before the drill: study tests if a 30-minute dental play session calms anxious kids
NCT ID NCT07702045
First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a structured 30-minute dental play session before restorative treatment can reduce anxiety and improve cooperation in children with mild to moderate dental fear. Children aged 2-5 on the Houpt behavior scale will play with safe dental tools guided by a child life specialist. Researchers will measure behavior during the procedure to see if this simple intervention helps kids cope better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- structured dental play session with a Certified Child Life Specialist
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer a simple, non-drug way to help anxious children cooperate during dental procedures.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 20 children, so results may not apply to all kids or dental settings.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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