Dental Anxiety in ChildrenNCT07656948
The Effect of Teledentistry on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial
A study testing Teledentistry Consultation and Conventional Clinical Examination in people with Dental Anxiety in Children and Teledentistry, run by Istanbul Aydın University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a brief teledentistry consultation on dental anxiety in children aged 7-11 years. Two hundred children with no previous dental visits or treatment experience were randomly assigned to either a teledentistry group or a conventional clinical examination… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dental Anxiety in Children, Teledentistry
- What is being tested?
- Teledentistry Consultation and Conventional Clinical Examination
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 200 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 11 Sep 2023to 27 Sep 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 7 to 11 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Children aged 7 to 11 years.
- Children attending their first dental examination appointment.
- Children requiring a non-emergency dental examination.
- Children and their parents/legal guardians who provided written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Children with previous dental treatment experience.
- Children with systemic diseases, neurological disorders, or developmental disabilities that could affect anxiety assessment.
- Children requiring emergency dental treatment.
- Children whose parents/legal guardians did not provide consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istanbul Aydin University
Istanbul, Kucukcekmece
About this study
This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a brief teledentistry consultation on dental anxiety in children aged 7-11 years. Two hundred children with no previous dental visits or treatment experience were randomly assigned to either a teledentistry group or a conventional clinical examination group. The teledentistry group received a standardized 3-5-minute pre-appointment video consultation via WhatsApp before their first dental visit. Dental anxiety was assessed using subjective and physiological parameters before and after the examination. The study investigated whether teledentistry could reduce dental anxiety and improve children's adaptation to their first dental visit.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey. The study included 200 children aged 7-11 years with no previous dental visits, dental treatment experience, or dental complaints. Participants were randomly allocated to either a teledentistry group (n=100) or a conventional clinical examination group (n=100). In the teledentistry group, children participated in a standardized synchronous 3-5-minute pre-appointment consultation via WhatsApp. During the consultation, children were introduced to the dentist, dental instruments, oral health concepts, and the examination process. The conventional group underwent direct face-to-face examination without prior virtual interaction. Dental anxiety was assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), heart rate, and oxygen saturation measured before and after clinical examination. The primary outcome was the difference in post-examination FIS scores between groups. Secondary outcomes included changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation.
- Conditions
- Dental Anxiety in Children, Teledentistry
- Being tested
- Teledentistry Consultation, Conventional Clinical Examination
- Keywords
- Teledentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Anxiety, Child, Facial Image Scale, First Dental Visit, Pulse Oximetry, Heart Rate
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Teledentistry ConsultationBehavioural
A standardized synchronous teledentistry consultation delivered via WhatsApp for 3-5 minutes before the first dental examination. Children were introduced to the dentist, dental instruments, oral health concepts, and the examination process.
Conventional Clinical ExaminationOther
Participants underwent a routine face-to-face dental examination without prior teledentistry consultation. Children attended their first dental visit and received a standard clinical examination performed by a pediatric dentist.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Teledentistry Group | Experimental | Participants received a standardized 3-5-minute synchronous teledentistry consultation via WhatsApp before their first dental examination. Children were introduced to the dentist, dental instruments, oral health concepts, and the examination process. Receives: Behavioral: Teledentistry Consultation |
| Conventional Clinical Examination Group | Active comparator | Participants underwent a conventional face-to-face clinical examination without prior teledentistry consultation. Children met the pediatric dentist for the first time during their scheduled dental appointment and received a routine clinical examination. Receives: Other: Conventional Clinical Examination |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Subjective dental anxiety in children
Dental anxiety levels of children assessed before and after the first dental examination using the Facial Image Scale (FIS).
Measured: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)
Objective dental anxiety assessed by oxygen saturation
Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured before and immediately after the first dental examination as an objective physiological parameter of dental anxiety.
Measured: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)
Objective dental anxiety assessed by heart rate
Heart rate was measured before and immediately after the first dental examination as an objective physiological parameter of dental anxiety.
Measured: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jun 2026
- Study start11 Sep 2023
- Primary completion23 Jul 2024
- Study completion27 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Dental Anxiety in ChildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: a teledentistry group and a conventional clinical examination group in a 1:1 allocation ratio.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Aydın University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Venus Seyedoskuyi, Istanbul Aydın University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07656948
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2022/143
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Teledentistry on Dental Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07656948
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2022/143
- Conditions
- Dental Anxiety in Children, Teledentistry
- Keywords
- Teledentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Anxiety, Child, Facial Image Scale, First Dental Visit, Pulse Oximetry, Heart Rate
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Aydın UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 23 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 27 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a brief teledentistry consultation on dental anxiety in children aged 7-11 years. Two hundred children with no previous dental visits or treatment experience were randomly assigned to either a teledentistry group or a conventional clinical examination group. The teledentistry group received a standardized 3-5-minute pre-appointment video consultation via WhatsApp before their first dental visit. Dental anxiety was assessed using subjective and physiological parameters before and after the examination. The study investigated whether teledentistry could reduce dental anxiety and improve children's adaptation to their first dental visit.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey. The study included 200 children aged 7-11 years with no previous dental visits, dental treatment experience, or dental complaints. Participants were randomly allocated to either a teledentistry group (n=100) or a conventional clinical examination group (n=100). In the teledentistry group, children participated in a standardized synchronous 3-5-minute pre-appointment consultation via WhatsApp. During the consultation, children were introduced to the dentist, dental instruments, oral health concepts, and the examination process. The conventional group underwent direct face-to-face examination without prior virtual interaction. Dental anxiety was assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), heart rate, and oxygen saturation measured before and after clinical examination. The primary outcome was the difference in post-examination FIS scores between groups. Secondary outcomes included changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: a teledentistry group and a conventional clinical examination group in a 1:1 allocation ratio.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Teledentistry Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Teledentistry ConsultationParticipants received a standardized 3-5-minute synchronous teledentistry consultation via WhatsApp before their first dental examination. Children were introduced to the dentist, dental instruments, oral health concepts, and the examination process. |
| Conventional Clinical Examination Group | Active comparator | Other: Conventional Clinical ExaminationParticipants underwent a conventional face-to-face clinical examination without prior teledentistry consultation. Children met the pediatric dentist for the first time during their scheduled dental appointment and received a routine clinical examination. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 7 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Children aged 7 to 11 years.
- Children attending their first dental examination appointment.
- Children requiring a non-emergency dental examination.
- Children and their parents/legal guardians who provided written informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Children with previous dental treatment experience.
- Children with systemic diseases, neurological disorders, or developmental disabilities that could affect anxiety assessment.
- Children requiring emergency dental treatment.
- Children whose parents/legal guardians did not provide consent.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Teledentistry ConsultationA standardized synchronous teledentistry consultation delivered via WhatsApp for 3-5 minutes before the first dental examination. Children were introduced to the dentist, dental instruments, oral health concepts, and the examination process. | Behavioural | Teledentistry Group |
| Conventional Clinical ExaminationParticipants underwent a routine face-to-face dental examination without prior teledentistry consultation. Children attended their first dental visit and received a standard clinical examination performed by a pediatric dentist. | Other | Conventional Clinical Examination Group |
Primary outcome
Subjective dental anxiety in children
Time frame: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)
Dental anxiety levels of children assessed before and after the first dental examination using the Facial Image Scale (FIS).
Objective dental anxiety assessed by oxygen saturation
Time frame: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)
Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured before and immediately after the first dental examination as an objective physiological parameter of dental anxiety.
Objective dental anxiety assessed by heart rate
Time frame: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)
Heart rate was measured before and immediately after the first dental examination as an objective physiological parameter of dental anxiety.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Teledentistry Consultation and Conventional Clinical Examination in people with Dental Anxiety in Children and Teledentistry, run by Istanbul Aydın University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Subjective dental anxiety in children (time frame: Before and immediately after the first dental examination (same day)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Jun 2026.