Dental AnxietyNCT07387055
Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Assessing Dental Anxiety in Children
An observational study of Dental Anxiety and Artificial Intelligence (AI), run by Sümeyra Akkoç at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The goal of this observational study was to evaluate an artificial intelligence-assisted projective method for assessing dental anxiety in young children and to understand how the first child-dentist interaction affected dental anxiety. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 3 to 6 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dental Anxiety, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Test Anxiety Scale
- How many people
- 171 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2024to 30 Nov 2024
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Day
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 3 to 6 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Study population: Children aged 3-6 years who presented for a routine dental examination to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kütahya Health Sciences University, between August 2024 and November 2024.
Who may be able to join
- The child and the parent/guardian agree to participate in the study.
- The child's native language is Turkish.
- The child is attending their first dental visit.
- The child has no systemic disease.
- The child is able to cooperate sufficiently to complete the initial dental examination.
Who cannot join
- Current use of medication, a known history of allergy, or the presence of any mental or physical disability
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Kütahya Health Sciences University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Kütahya, Centre
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on the Development of Projective Methods Used in the Determination of Dental Anxiety in Children
The goal of this observational study was to evaluate an artificial intelligence-assisted projective method for assessing dental anxiety in young children and to understand how the first child-dentist interaction affected dental anxiety. The main questions it aimed to answer were:
Did the artificial intelligence-assisted projective method provide a valid and reliable assessment of dental anxiety in children aged 3 to 6 years? Did dental anxiety change after the child's first interaction with the dentist during the first dental visit? Children aged 3 to 6 years who attended their first dental visit as part of routine dental care took part. During the same visit, dental anxiety was assessed before and after the initial child-dentist interaction using picture-based dental anxiety scales and the newly developed projective method. All assessments were completed on the same day.
Read the detailed description
This study evaluated the validity and reliability of an artificial intelligence-assisted projective assessment tool using the Facial Image Scale, the Venham Picture Test, and the Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata Pictorial Scale as comparator measures. Dental anxiety was assessed with the AI-assisted tool and all comparator scales immediately before and immediately after the child's first interaction with the dentist during the same visit. Reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, and criterion validity was assessed using Spearman rank correlation. Pre-interaction and post-interaction dental anxiety scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test separately for each measurement tool.
- Keywords
- Dental Anxiety, Pediatric Dentistry, Artificial Intelligence, Child-Dntist Interaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| First Dental Visit Group | Children aged 3-6 years who presented for a routine dental examination, were attending their first dental visit, and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria constituted the study group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
AI-Assisted Projective Dental Anxiety Assessment Tool Score
Dental anxiety is assessed using an AI-Assisted projective assessment tool. The score ranges from 1 to 5, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Facial Image Scale (FIS) Score
Dental anxiety is assessed using the FIS. The score ranges from 1 to 5, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Venham Picture Test (VPT) Score
Dental anxiety is assessed using the VPT. The score ranges from 0 to 8, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata Pictorial Scale (RMS-PS) Score
Dental anxiety is assessed using the RMS-PS. The score ranges from 1 to 5, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Aug 2024
- Primary completion30 Nov 2024
- Study completion30 Nov 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Dental AnxietyStudies 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 171 participants (actual)
- Target duration
- 1 Day
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sümeyra Akkoç
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Sümeyra Akkoç, Kutahya Health Sciences University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387055
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024/05-33
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Sekmenli Ozbek G, Akkoc S. An AI-Assisted pictorial measure of children's dental anxiety during the initial child-dentist interaction. BMC Pediatr. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1186/s12887-026-07313-4. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42449269
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Artificial Intelligence on the Development of Projective Methods Used in the Determination of Dental Anxiety in Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387055
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024/05-33
- Keywords
- Dental Anxiety, Pediatric Dentistry, Artificial Intelligence, Child-Dntist Interaction
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 171 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sümeyra AkkoçUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Feb 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.
The goal of this observational study was to evaluate an artificial intelligence-assisted projective method for assessing dental anxiety in young children and to understand how the first child-dentist interaction affected dental anxiety. The main questions it aimed to answer were:
Did the artificial intelligence-assisted projective method provide a valid and reliable assessment of dental anxiety in children aged 3 to 6 years? Did dental anxiety change after the child's first interaction with the dentist during the first dental visit? Children aged 3 to 6 years who attended their first dental visit as part of routine dental care took part. During the same visit, dental anxiety was assessed before and after the initial child-dentist interaction using picture-based dental anxiety scales and the newly developed projective method. All assessments were completed on the same day.
Detailed description
This study evaluated the validity and reliability of an artificial intelligence-assisted projective assessment tool using the Facial Image Scale, the Venham Picture Test, and the Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata Pictorial Scale as comparator measures. Dental anxiety was assessed with the AI-assisted tool and all comparator scales immediately before and immediately after the child's first interaction with the dentist during the same visit. Reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, and criterion validity was assessed using Spearman rank correlation. Pre-interaction and post-interaction dental anxiety scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test separately for each measurement tool.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 1 Day
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| First Dental Visit Group | – | –Children aged 3-6 years who presented for a routine dental examination, were attending their first dental visit, and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria constituted the study group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 3 to 6 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- Children aged 3-6 years who presented for a routine dental examination to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kütahya Health Sciences University, between August 2024 and November 2024.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- The child and the parent/guardian agree to participate in the study.
- The child's native language is Turkish.
- The child is attending their first dental visit.
- The child has no systemic disease.
- The child is able to cooperate sufficiently to complete the initial dental examination.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Current use of medication, a known history of allergy, or the presence of any mental or physical disability
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
AI-Assisted Projective Dental Anxiety Assessment Tool Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Dental anxiety is assessed using an AI-Assisted projective assessment tool. The score ranges from 1 to 5, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Facial Image Scale (FIS) Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Dental anxiety is assessed using the FIS. The score ranges from 1 to 5, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Venham Picture Test (VPT) Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Dental anxiety is assessed using the VPT. The score ranges from 0 to 8, and higher scores indicate higher dental anxiety.
Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata Pictorial Scale (RMS-PS) Score
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)
Dental anxiety is assessed using the RMS-PS. The score ranges from 1 to 5, and higher scores indicate higher 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 4 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42449269Sekmenli Ozbek G, Akkoc S. An AI-Assisted pictorial measure of children's dental anxiety during the initial child-dentist interaction. BMC Pediatr. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1186/s12887-026-07313-4. Online ahead of print.
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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?
An observational study of Dental Anxiety and Artificial Intelligence (AI), run by Sümeyra Akkoç 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 5 inclusion and 1 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 4 Feb 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?
AI-Assisted Projective Dental Anxiety Assessment Tool Score (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the initial child-dentist interaction (same visit)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07387055, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 4 Feb 2026.