Puppy power: therapy dogs calm Kids' dental fears
NCT ID NCT07448714
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether having a therapy dog present during dental treatment helps children aged 4 to 12 who are afraid of the dentist behave better and feel calmer. Twenty children each had two dental visits—one without a dog and one with a trained therapy dog. Researchers compared their behavior using a standard scale to see if the dog made a difference.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2023
- Finished
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May 2024
- Lead sponsor
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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
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4 to 12 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with ages between 4-12 years old * Patients who presents history of uncooperativeness during dental treatments and fear/anxiety in the dental setting, according to the parents. * Patients must have at least two quadrants of dental interventions of similar complexity available Exclusion Criteria: * Children will be excluded if immunocompromised. * Children with a had a medical history of allergies and/or phobias to dogs.
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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
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University of Puerto Rico - School of Dental Medicine
San Juan, PR, 00936, Puerto Rico
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.