Effects of animal-assisted therapy on dental anxiety, behavior, and perceptions in young pediatric patients: a blinded randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Between 6 and 22% of children are affected by dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is a significant barrier to dental care and is associated with dental avoidance and negative oral health outcomes. Pharmacological methods of anxiety management are costly, carry risks of adverse outcomes, and may not be acceptable to some families. Alternative non-pharmacological methods are needed for the safe and effective delivery of dental care. Although there is an abundance of literature regarding animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in medicine, only preliminary studies on AAT exist in dentistry. To identify optimal outcome measures for evaluating AAT in pediatric dental contexts, a randomized controlled trial protocol was developed.

Methods

A prospective randomized controlled trial prot

SUBMITTER: Kapov G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12330074 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature