Clinical Research Directory

Do Therapy Dogs Improve Behavior and Reduce Anxiety in Pediatric Dental Patients?

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess whether the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental procedures that require an injection reduces anxiety and improves behavior in pediatric dental patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the presence of a certified therapy dog during dental procedure requiring an injection reduce anxiety and improve behavior in pediatric dental patients? * How do the parents of pediatric dental patients who participate in the study view the use of a certified therapy dog in their child's treatment? * Does the presence of a certified therapy dog result in different concentrations of microbes in the treatment room? All participants will receive standard of care. Researchers will compare the group with a therapy dog present to a group who does not have a therapy dog present to see if heart rate, oxygen saturation, percentage of nitrous oxide administered, and Frankl scores differ between the groups.