Improving dental care for children with anxiety through sensory adaptations
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-11103364 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special dental setting with calming sights and sounds can help make trips to the dentist less scary for kids, especially those who feel anxious or have sensory sensitivities, and it will involve 312 children aged 6 to 12 to see if this approach really helps.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $954,605 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE031222-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103364 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 6-12 years, particularly those with dental fear or anxiety, including those on the autism spectrum.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not experience dental anxiety or sensory sensitivities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how a specially designed dental environment can help reduce fear and anxiety in children during dental visits. By creating a Sensory Adapted Dental Environment (SADE) that includes soothing visual, auditory, and tactile elements, the study aims to make dental care more comfortable for children, especially those with sensory sensitivities or anxiety. The project will involve 312 children aged 6-12, half of whom experience dental fear and half who do not, to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in reducing anxiety during dental treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dental experiences and better oral health outcomes for children who struggle with anxiety.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that sensory adaptations can effectively reduce anxiety in children during dental procedures, indicating a promising approach.
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.