NCT07448714

Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal Assisted Therapy as a Behavioral Management Technique During Dental Treatment in Pediatric Patients

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Puerto Rico · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether treatment assisted by companion dogs, as a behavior management technique during dental treatment in pediatric patients, is effective, in children between 4 and 12 years old. The main question it aims to answer is: • Pediatric patients with poor behavior will improve their behavior in the presence of a therapy dog during dental treatments. Researchers will compare patient behavior with and without the therapy dog to see if behavior during dental treatment improves with dog presence Participants will complete two dental visits: 1. First visit: without the therapy dog 2. Second visit: with the therapy dog present In both visits, the child will receive the same dental treatment required in their treatment plan. A faculty member will evaluate the child's behavior with and without the therapy dog. Parents or guardians will be asked to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire and a perception survey regarding dental treatment with or without the therapy dog.

Conditions

• Dental Fear and Anxiety
• Animal Assisted Therapy
• Dental Treatment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	animal assisted therapy	Presence of a therapy dog during the dental treatment procedure visit

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-12-13
• Primary completion: 2024-05-30
• Completion: 2024-05-30
• First posted: 2026-03-04
• Last updated: 2026-03-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Puerto Rico