Animal Assisted Therapy's Effects on Young Dental Patients
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Summary
A prospective randomized trial measuring physiologic biometrics and perceptions of stress during a pediatric dental exam, cleaning, and simulated radiographs with or without a therapy dog present.
Description
Patients will be consented, enrolled, and randomly assigned to a control group (no dog) or to an experimental group with dog present only before their dental visit for 3 minutes (+ Short AAT) or to an experimental group with dog present throughout their entire visit (+ Long AAT). Control (no dog) patients will have an active control where they color for 3 minutes before their dental exam, cleaning, and simulated radiographs, without a dog present. Biometric data will be collected with a small wireless wrist device (Shimmer 3) which measures heart rate and sweat response (skin galvanic response…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 4–8 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for enrollment in the study: * 4-8 years of age * English speaking * Qualifies for a dental exam and prophylaxis (cleaning) by having not received a dental prophylaxis or oral exam in the past 3 months * Stable physical health, decided at the discretion of the study coordinator and PI * Able to comprehend and follow the requirements of the study (including availability on scheduled visit dates) based on research site personnel's assessment * Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed assent f…
Interventions
- Behavioral+Short AAT
Interaction with therapy dog prior to dental exam, cleaning, and simulated radiographs.
- Behavioral+Long AAT
Interaction with therapy dog throughout dental exam, cleaning, and simulated radiographs.
- BehavioralActive control; NO dog
Color dog picture for 3 minutes prior to dental exam, cleaning, and simulated radiographs.
Location
- General & Oral Health CenterChapel Hill, North Carolina