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

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Odontologic Disorders

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06776653

Run by

Nantes University Hospital

People needed

100

Starts

2025-01-15

Expected to finish

2027-03-15

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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.

You may not qualify if…

• 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.

Where it is running

• CHU Nantes-Department of Dentistry — Nantes, Nantes, France (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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