Furry friend at the dentist: could a therapy dog calm nervous kids?
NCT ID NCT06725134
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether having a trained therapy dog present during a child's dental numbing injection can reduce anxiety and distress. About 25 children aged 4 to 12 will be randomly assigned to either have a therapy dog with them or receive standard care. Researchers will measure behavior and heart rate to see if the dog helps.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- therapy dog presence
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a simple, drug-free way to help children feel calmer during dental procedures.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small study (25 children) and results may not apply to all kids or dental settings. The effect may be small or not work for everyone.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Michigan School of Dentistry Children's Clinic
RECRUITINGAnn Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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