Trial Outcomes & Findings for Animal Assisted Therapy in Dentistry (NCT NCT04708028)

NCT ID: NCT04708028

Last Updated: 2024-08-19

Results Overview

To measure stress levels salivette swab will be placed in child's cheek to absorb saliva.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

40 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Up to end of dental visit; a total average between 60 to 90 minutes

Results posted on

2024-08-19

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Control
No exposure to the therapy dog.
Dog Therapy
Introduced to a therapy dog and allowed to pet the dog for up to 2 minutes (timed) prior to the dental procedure. Dog Therapy: The intervention is a therapy dog interaction (e.g. petting) for up to 2 minutes before their appointment and first interaction with the doctor. The subject can pet the dog for as long as they like up until the 2 minute mark.
Overall Study
STARTED
22
18
Overall Study
COMPLETED
21
18
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Animal Assisted Therapy in Dentistry

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Control
n=21 Participants
No exposure to the therapy dog.
Dog Therapy
n=18 Participants
Introduced to a therapy dog and allowed to pet the dog for up to 2 minutes (timed) prior to the dental procedure. Dog Therapy: The intervention is a therapy dog interaction (e.g. petting) for up to 2 minutes before their appointment and first interaction with the doctor. The subject can pet the dog for as long as they like up until the 2 minute mark.
Total
n=39 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
18 Participants
n=7 Participants
39 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
9.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.0 • n=5 Participants
9.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.1 • n=7 Participants
9.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.0 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
11 Participants
n=7 Participants
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
26 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
13 Participants
n=7 Participants
26 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
18 Participants
n=7 Participants
39 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to end of dental visit; a total average between 60 to 90 minutes

To measure stress levels salivette swab will be placed in child's cheek to absorb saliva.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Control
n=21 Participants
No exposure to the therapy dog.
Dog Therapy
n=18 Participants
Introduced to a therapy dog and allowed to pet the dog for up to 2 minutes (timed) prior to the dental procedure. Dog Therapy: The intervention is a therapy dog interaction (e.g. petting) for up to 2 minutes before their appointment and first interaction with the doctor. The subject can pet the dog for as long as they like up until the 2 minute mark.
Mean Salivary Amylase Levels Throughout Dental Visit
Baseline
150.82 U/mL
Standard Deviation 135.01
166.70 U/mL
Standard Deviation 114.32
Mean Salivary Amylase Levels Throughout Dental Visit
8 minutes Post intervention (Dog exposure or no dog exposure)
127.77 U/mL
Standard Deviation 92.46
145.39 U/mL
Standard Deviation 99.02
Mean Salivary Amylase Levels Throughout Dental Visit
8 minutes after starting dental procedure
97.78 U/mL
Standard Deviation 59.65
175.11 U/mL
Standard Deviation 144.37
Mean Salivary Amylase Levels Throughout Dental Visit
8 minutes after completion of dental procedure
175.10 U/mL
Standard Deviation 232.24
210.05 U/mL
Standard Deviation 188.93

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Up to end of dental visit; a total average between 60 to 90 minutes

To measure stress levels salivette swab will be placed in child's cheek to absorb saliva.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Control
n=21 Participants
No exposure to the therapy dog.
Dog Therapy
n=18 Participants
Introduced to a therapy dog and allowed to pet the dog for up to 2 minutes (timed) prior to the dental procedure. Dog Therapy: The intervention is a therapy dog interaction (e.g. petting) for up to 2 minutes before their appointment and first interaction with the doctor. The subject can pet the dog for as long as they like up until the 2 minute mark.
Mean Salivary Cortisol Levels Throughout Dental Visit
Baseline
0.185 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.255
0.155 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.090
Mean Salivary Cortisol Levels Throughout Dental Visit
8 minutes Post intervention (Dog exposure or no dog exposure)
0.153 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.219
0.154 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.112
Mean Salivary Cortisol Levels Throughout Dental Visit
8 minutes after starting dental procedure
0.223 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.273
0.133 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.129
Mean Salivary Cortisol Levels Throughout Dental Visit
8 minutes after completion of dental procedure
0.186 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.157
0.193 µg/dL
Standard Deviation 0.127

Adverse Events

Control

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Dog Therapy

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Laura Jacox, DMD, PhD

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Phone: 919-966-9731

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place