Odontophobia or Dentophobia or simply dental fear is something most people encounter in a dental clinic.Reasons for this are subjective. Some people don't like the drill that cuts tooth , while some anticipate the worst after hearing bad experiences of peers or family. Whatever be the reason, people always yearn for things that can help maintain their serenity. What if this escapism is given to you by a pet?! Would you like it, or not?
It turns out that 'Therapy Dogs' are the next-big-thing in dentistry in the US. They are commonly sought after by Dentists especially for their pediatric patients. It is a known to everyone that dogs reduce anxiety and loneliness. Similarly, these specially-trained dogs are known to help maintain the tranquility of children while receiving dental treatment, thus helping the dentist to deliver optimum care.
According to the American Kennel Club, therapy dogs are not service dogs, which are specially trained to help a person with disability. These dogs accompany their owners to volunteer in schools, hospitals, clinics etc. to comfort the patients. Therapy dogs need to undergo a certification program along with their handler in order to qualify for this job. Mind you, this program is rigorous! The handler receives special training, the dog gets obedience training and the pair have to pass a test jointly.
This therapy is known to be effective not only for children, but also for adults. Even researchers at Georgia State University, Idaho State University and Savannah College of Arts and Design, through their studies proved the utility of therapy dogs.
So, if you are a pet-lover and a dentophobiac, it's time to check-out for clinics that have therapy dogs!
Pointers for Dentists:
- If you wish to have a therapy dog in your clinic, call the local health department and the state dental board to get their approval.
- Find the right dog. They should be docile, obedient and should not fear the dental armamentarium.
- The dog and the handler should be certified. The dog should be vaccinated and their hygiene should be excellent.
- Don't force this therapy on all fearful patients. Some are NOT pet-friendly, while some may be allergic.
- Choose days when you'll have these dogs visiting you and call for patients accordingly.
- Inform every new patient that comes that day that there's a dog in your clinic.
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