Turtle-assisted session to reduce dental anxiety in children

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

This interventional study will compare a turtle-assisted therapy session with standard care during non-invasive dental procedures in children aged 6-10 years with ASA I-II health. The approach uses a structured animal-assisted therapy session with a turtle present, measuring dental anxiety and behavioral compliance with validated tools and physiological markers. Participants are randomized to an experimental group or a control group and will undergo procedures such as examinations or fluoride application without local anesthesia. The study aims to determine whether the turtlePresence can reduce anxiety and improve cooperation without pharmacological methods. Results will inform whether AAT could be a feasible non-pharmacologic option in pediatric dentistry.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Children aged 6-10 years

  * Children with ASA I-II general health status
  * Children who have obtained written parental consent + an age-appropriate informed consent form
  * Children undergoing non-invasive procedures that do not require local anesthesia, such as dental examinations, fissure sealant or fluoride application. • Children who can understand Turkish instructions (for scale application).

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Children with animal phobia / intense fear of turtles (as stated by the child or parent). • Children with immunosuppression or a history of severe allergic diseases. • Children with a dental plan requiring sedation/GA within the last month (due to intense anxiety or systemic illness).

  * Children with an active infectious disease / a condition requiring isolation. • Children for whom a physician has deemed contact with animals inadvisable. • Children who have been included in a similar behavioral/anxiety intervention program during the same period.

Where it's running

• Igdır University
  Iğdır, Iğdır, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Eda Gülbetekin, Assoc. Prof.
• Email: edagulbetekin@gmail.com
• Phone: 05398612688

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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.