A cross-sectional prospective study measuring physiologic biometrics and perceptions of stress during a dental procedure with or without a therapy dog present.
Patients will be consented, enrolled, and assigned to a control group (no dog) or to an experimental group (dog). The patient assigned to the experimental group will be exposed to the therapy animal prior to the dental appointment. Pre-dental procedure and post-dental procedure surveys will be given to all the subjects asking the same questions. Biometric data will be collected by measuring heart rates of the patient/subject during the dental appointment with a Shimmer or Polar device.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
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.
General & Oral Health Center
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Mean Salivary Amylase Levels Throughout Dental Visit
To measure stress levels salivette swab will be placed in child's cheek to absorb saliva.
Time frame: Up to end of dental visit; a total average between 60 to 90 minutes
Mean Salivary Cortisol Levels Throughout Dental Visit
To measure stress levels salivette swab will be placed in child's cheek to absorb saliva.
Time frame: Up to end of dental visit; a total average between 60 to 90 minutes
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