Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Survey of Child’s and Parent’s Perception in Reducing Dental Anxiety

Abstract

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is being explored as an alternate technique to reduce anxiety and comfort apprehensive patients. This chapter aims to evaluate the impact of pets on lowering the anxiety of children at the dental operatory, as well as the children's and parents' acceptance of this technique. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study included 65 children aged 3 to 12 years old and their parents. Using a questionnaire and picture cards, they were evaluated for anxiety and the impact of pets on anxiety levels. The Chi-square test was used to statistically examine the data. Pets in the dental operatory are useful in lowering anxiety, according to 83.3% of parents and 75.4% of children. Live pets were favored by 58.5% of children but just 33.3% of parents.  Dogs were found to be the favorite pet of very young children (31.6%), while rabbits were favored by older children (43.5%). Animal-assisted therapy was proven to be effective in lowering children's anxiety during dental visits.