Below is an interesting article about a dental practice in Minnesota that has a dental therapy dog to help ease the anxiety of patients both young an old. Thanks for visiting Advanced Endodontics of Lakewood, OH.
Patient anxiety is a long-standing challenge that every dentist will have to grapple with at some point in their careers. Different tactics to combat patient anxiety have surfaced over the years, but today the latest trend is that of the dental therapy animal. These trained and certified animals, usually dogs, are being featured at an increasing number of dental practices across the country, providing a sense of ease and comfort to the anxious dental patient, children and adults alike.
Applewood Family Dental in Woodbury, MN, is one such practice that currently offers the services of a dental therapy dog. Molly, a 5-year-old cocker spaniel, has served as their resident dental therapy dog since July of last year. Molly completed her special training through Pet Partners, a national program founded in 1977, after finding strong evidence in research that animal companionship helped “reduce blood pressure, lower stress and anxiety levels, and stimulate the release of endorphins which make people feel good.” Molly is able to do all of this for many anxious patients at Applewood Family Dental. Patients are invited to pet Molly, or even have her sit in their laps to help them feel soothed, happy, and relaxed. She is great with children, which is very inspiring, says Dr. Brian Kraby. “It helps create a lifelong change about dentistry,” he says, as kids may often develop fears about the dentist at a very early age.
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