Effect of Play Dough, Slime, and Plush Toys on Dental Anxiety and Pain in Children During Dental … (NCT07445594) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Effect of Play Dough, Slime, and Plush Toys on Dental Anxiety and Pain in Children During Dental Treatment
90 participantsStarted 2026-02-17
Plain-language summary
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tactile distraction materials, including play dough, slime, and plush toys, on dental anxiety, pain perception, and physiological stress responses in children undergoing dental treatment. Ninety children aged 6-10 years receiving restorative dental treatment under local anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of four groups: play dough, slime, plush toy, or control group without distraction. Dental anxiety and pain levels were assessed using validated psychometric scales, while physiological stress responses were evaluated through heart rate monitoring and salivary cortisol measurements. The study seeks to determine whether simple non-pharmacological distraction techniques can improve behavioral cooperation and reduce anxiety and pain perception during pediatric dental procedures. Findings may contribute to the development of child-friendly dental management strategies and enhance the quality of pediatric dental care.
Who can participate
Age range6 Years – 10 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. Children aged 6-10 years requiring restorative dental treatment.
✓. Indication for dental treatment under local anesthesia.
✓. Ability to understand and respond to dental anxiety and pain assessment scales (CFSS-DS and Wong-Baker Faces Scale).
✓. Children classified as ASA I or ASA II.
✓. No prior exposure to the distraction materials used in the study during dental treatment.
✓. Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians.
Exclusion criteria
✕. Presence of systemic diseases or medical conditions affecting stress response or contraindicating routine dental treatment
✕. History of psychiatric, neurological, or developmental disorders that may impair cooperation or communication
✕. Use of medications influencing anxiety, pain perception, heart rate, or cortisol levels
What they're measuring
1
Dental Anxiety Level Assessed by the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS)
Timeframe: Immediately before the dental procedure (baseline) and immediately after completion of the dental procedure (same day, periprocedural)
2
Physiological Stress Response - Cortisol
Timeframe: During the dental procedure (at the 10th minute of treatment)