Dog o' Day
Fansided

Indiana dentist is training an emotional support dog to help patients with anxiety

By Kimberley Spinney

MILTON, FL - DECEMBER 03: A dentist works on patient Nathan Tiller at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) mobile dental and medical clinic on December 3, 2016 in Milton, Florida. It is expected that over a thousand people will show up seeking free dental and medical care at the two-day event in the financially struggling Florida panhandle community. RAM provides free medical care through mobile clinics in underserved, isolated, or impoverished communities around the country and world. As health-care continues to be a contentious issue in America, an estimated 29 million Americans, about one in 10, lack coverage. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
MILTON, FL - DECEMBER 03: A dentist works on patient Nathan Tiller at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) mobile dental and medical clinic on December 3, 2016 in Milton, Florida. It is expected that over a thousand people will show up seeking free dental and medical care at the two-day event in the financially struggling Florida panhandle community. RAM provides free medical care through mobile clinics in underserved, isolated, or impoverished communities around the country and world. As health-care continues to be a contentious issue in America, an estimated 29 million Americans, about one in 10, lack coverage. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

One dentist in Indiana has finally thought up a great way to counter patient’s anxiety about coming to see him by offering an emotional support dog in the office.

If there is one medical office that seems to inspire the most anxiety it would have to be the dentist. For some reason, there is something about that particular aspect of health care that seems to make even the toughest person feel an overwhelming sense of dread. And in Columbus, Indiana, it seems that one dentist wants to help patients deal with that anxiety by offering the services of an emotional support dog.

According to The Republic, at the Tipton Lakes Family Dentist office, there is a two-year-old rescue pup named Lucy who is there to help patients deal with any anxiety they may be feeling about having to see the dentist. Apparently Lucy, a Blue Heeler mutt, is currently being trained as an actual emotional support dog, but is already making a difference at the office.

At this point Lucy has already been trained in many aspects of being an emotional support dog, and it is all about putting this into action in the setting of a dentist’s office. According to the pup’s owner (who also happens to own the practice as well), Dr. Christopher Bartels, “We’ve got her trained already to sit with .” But that’s not all, as Lucy seems ready to help wherever she may be needed.

Dr. Bartels explained that throughout the day, “While we’re working, she’ll come in and stop in each operatory. If the patient reaches their hand out, she’ll let them pet for a minute. If a patient ignores her like they don’t want to deal with her, then she’ll just go on to the next room.”

Honestly, Lucy sounds like a very good girl, especially if she is helping people to get through a dentist visit that might otherwise have been filled with anxiety.

Lucy is not the first pup to act as an emotional support dog for a dental office, as the idea was actually inspired by another dentist on the west coast. However, this is definitely the first time we have heard of this, and we think it is a great idea.

There are so many people who suffer with anxiety and panic attacks over having to see the dentist, that finding ways to handle that stress is extremely important. If a pup like Lucy can help to alleviate some of the panic that comes from just walking in the door of a dental office, then it seems like a great idea that more dentists might want to consider offering.

light. Related Story. San Francisco 49ers have emotional support dog on staff

What do you think of a dental office having an emotional support dog on staff? Do you think it would make a difference having a trained service dog on hand? Tell us what you think in the comments.

Home/Special Topics