Calming dental visits for children with sensory sensitivities and dental anxiety
Official title: Sensory Adapted Dental Environments to Enhance Oral Care for Children with and without Dental Fear and Anxiety
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11307553 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Calming lights, soothing sounds, gentle touch supports and short video coaching to help children ages 6–12 feel less anxious during dental cleanings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $987,010 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE031222-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307553 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 6–12, with or without dental fear or sensory over-responsivity, who can attend two routine cleanings and whose caregivers consent to participation are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children younger than 6 or older than 12, those requiring advanced medical/dental sedation or general anesthesia for care, or those unable to attend both visits are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If your child joins, they will have two routine dental cleanings scheduled 4–6 months apart in different clinic setups. One visit uses a sensory-adapted room with soft lighting, calming audio, and tactile supports paired with brief video modeling, and the other visit uses a standard dental room; the order is randomized so each child experiences both conditions. The study will track behavior, child-reported and physiological signs of anxiety, and how well children tolerate care. The project enrolls 312 diverse children aged 6–12, including those with and without dental fear, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make dental visits less stressful for children and reduce the need for sedation or missed appointments.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier pilot work (an NIDCR-funded R34) found that sensory-adapted environments reduced physiological anxiety and behavioral distress in both autistic and typically developing children, so this larger trial builds on promising prior results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stein Duker, Leah I. — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Stein Duker, Leah I.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.