Plain-English translation of NCT05464888 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Anxiety research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
Dental anxiety is very common in young children, and researchers want to know if spending time with a friendly, trained dog can help calm kids down during dental visits. This study will compare three groups of children: some who spend 3 minutes with a dog before their appointment, some who have a dog present throughout their entire visit, and some who don't interact with a dog but color instead. The researchers will measure stress levels using a small wrist device, saliva samples, and videos of body movement to see if the dog really makes a difference.
Many children feel scared or anxious at the dentist, which can make dental care harder and lead to avoiding dental visits later in life. This study is exploring whether animal-assisted therapy—simply having a calm, friendly dog present—might be a simple, safe way to ease that anxiety and make dental visits less stressful for young patients.
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Your child will visit the dental clinic once for a routine exam, cleaning, and simulated X-rays. Before or during the visit, depending on which group your child is assigned to, he or she may spend time with a friendly, trained dog. Researchers will measure your child's stress levels using a small wireless wrist device that tracks heart rate and sweat, saliva samples taken before and after the visit, and video recording of body movements. You and your child will also answer simple surveys about pain, anxiety, and how the dental experience felt.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 13, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Collaborators
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Enrollment target
~225 participants
Started
February 2023
Primary completion
February 2028
Age range
4 Years – 8 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in June 2026.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Laura A Jacox, DMD, PhD, MS
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.