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.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Michigan School of Dentistry Children's Clinic
RECRUITINGAnn Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••