Animal-Assisted Therapy in Dentistry

Animal-assisted therapy is an effective behavior management strategy in children, according to a recent study published in the European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry.

Fear of and anxiety towards going to dentists (i.e., dental fear and anxiety, DFA) are major problems for a sizeable proportion of children and adolescents. The prevalence of dental fear and anxiety in children and adolescents ranges from 5-20% in various countries, with some cases being dental phobia (severe DFA). Children and adolescents with DFA are often uncooperative during dental visits, thus rendering treatment difficult or impossible.

Children are often afraid to visit a dentist. Dental anxiety is a worldwide issue and a barrier to successful treatment outcomes. Pet therapy, especially through dogs, has been demonstrated to be beneficial in reducing anxiety. In today's generation, where dopamine is prevalent, attention is hijacked, and children are tethered to screens—this research on animal-assisted therapy outlines the impact on children undergoing simple dental procedures, and evaluates its use in long-term behavior management, and child and parental acceptance of this technique.

Study Overview

One hundred and two children between five and 10 years of age and requiring simple dental procedures were selected randomly and divided into two groups:

• Group A: Dental treatment was carried out in the presence of a therapy dog.
• Group B (Control Group): Dental treatment was carried out in a regular dental setup.

Anxiety levels were evaluated by pulse rate and anxiety rating scale. Prior to exiting the room, the parents were asked to rate the child's interaction with therapy dogs.

Results

According to an independent t-test, reduction in anxiety was highly significant (p < 0.001).

Thus, the researchers concluded that animal-assisted therapy is an effective behavior management strategy.

Reference

Assessment of dental anxiety in children between 5 and 10 years of age in the presence of a therapy dog: a randomized controlled clinical study by T. K. Thakkar et al. published in the European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00583-1