Near‑infrared photobiomodulation for pain relief during children's dental care

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Investigators plan three prospective, randomized clinical studies enrolling about 200 healthy children aged 6–12 who need routine dental procedures at the University of Maryland pediatric clinics. An intra‑oral photobiomodulation (PBM) device with a multi‑emitter near‑infrared tip will be applied for short bursts (about 20 seconds) to target tooth and soft tissue before diagnostic testing, injections, or simple fillings. The first trial will measure changes in cold and probing responses, the second will test whether PBM reduces injection discomfort, and the third will explore whether PBM can enable simple fillings in baby teeth without local anesthetic injections. Outcomes include patient‑reported discomfort, behavioral responses, and comparisons with topical benzocaine and standard local anesthesia using randomized allocation.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy children, aged 6-12 years, requiring routine dental treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children with uncooperative behavior or signficant medical history

Where it's running

• University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Pediatric Clinics
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Vineet Dhar, BDS, MDS, PhD
• Email: vdhar@umaryland.edu
• Phone: 410-706-7970

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.