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NCT Number: NCT06776653

Impact of a Snoezelen Element on Anxiety in Patients During Oral Care: A Real-Life Study at Nantes University Hospital

Research on dental phobia highlights both external causes, like traumatic experiences or media influence, and internal factors, such as genetics and personality traits. While many studies focus on technical aspects of dental care, few explore how the care environment affects patient anxiety.

The Snoezelen concept, developed in the 1970s, uses sensory stimulation (sight, sound, smell, and touch) to reduce anxiety. Initially designed for individuals with neurocognitive disorders, it creates a calming environment and has since been adopted in various healthcare settings.

At Nantes University Hospital, the dental department will test the Tovertafel Pixie®, a sensory projector designed to distract patients and reduce anxiety. Its mobility allows it to be used in waiting rooms and treatment areas, projecting onto ceilings, walls, or tables. This real-life study will assess whether patients exposed to the projector experience less anxiety compared to those who are not, with the goal of improving patient care and dental treatment experiences.

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Key information

Conditions

Odontologic Disorders Stomatognathic Diseases Tooth Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

About this study

The study involves a questionnaire that the dental department usually provide to our patients, which is partially completed by the patient and partially by the practitioner at the end of the treatment session. No follow-up visit is required.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patient, over 18 years old;
  • consulting in the specialized care unit;
  • who understands French;
  • receiving care in the specialized dentistry unit and capable of expressing themselves independently regarding the various items in the questionnaire, whether orally, in writing, through a speech synthesis system, or using pictograms;
  • able to provide consent to participate.

Exclusion criteria

  • receiving care in the specialized care unit who are unable to express themselves independently regarding the various items in the questionnaire, whether orally, in writing, through a speech synthesis system, or using pictograms;
  • refuse to participate in the study;
  • under guardianship, curatorship, or legal protection.

Treatment and study plan

Tovertafel Pixie

Other

The Tovertafel Pixie® projector has a distracting effect, which can help divert the patient's attention while waiting for or undergoing treatment.

Primary outcomes

  1. Measurement of anxiety.

    Time frame: 1 day

    The Kleinknecht Dental Fear Survey (DFS) measures dental anxiety on a scale ranging from 20 (minimum) to 100 (maximum), where higher scores indicate greater levels of fear or anxiety - Comparison of means

Secondary outcomes

  1. Measure the waiting time in the waiting room

    Time frame: 1day

    Measure the waiting time in the waiting room in minutes

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Alexandra Poinas, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

02 53 48 28 57

Isabelle Hyon, M.D

CONTACT

[email protected]

02 44 76 80 78

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Nantes University Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of a Snoezelen Element on Anxiety in Patients With Special Needs During Oral Care at the Hôtel-Dieu University Hospital in Nantes: A Real-Life Study at Nantes University Hospital

Acronym: IISLA

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 15, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 24, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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