Why dentists are recommending therapy dogs for anxious patients

Dentists often deal with anxious patients of all ages. People sometimes expect kids to grow out of anxiety, but it can linger long into adulthood. Instead of relying only on helpful methods from previous years of practice, dentists are recommending therapy dogs for patients who can’t find any comfort otherwise.

Read more about why therapy dogs are an innovative solution for dental offices to better understand if they’ll become long-term team members. You might even enjoy having one by your side one day. Consider if dental appointments could become more manageable with benefits like these.

Why Do Dentists Make People Anxious?

There are numerous reasons why kids and adults become uncomfortable in the dentist’s office. Among other reasons like poor personal experiences, people may not look forward to bi-annual cleanings with factors such as:

• Remaining in close physical proximity to a stranger
• Being unable to watch what’s happening in their own mouth
• Feeling self-conscious about bad breath or poor tooth health
• Having experienced pain from past dental procedures
• Getting stressed from not understanding dental terminology

What Are Current Resources for Anxious Patients?

Dentists currently offer anxiety resources for patients that may or may not work for each individual. They can coach patients through breathing techniques to calm their heart rate and walk through the steps of an upcoming procedure so the patient knows what to expect.

Calming background music, soft lighting and reading materials in waiting rooms can also reduce a patient’s anxiety. However, these resources may not work as effectively for some people as the presence of a therapy dog. Adding dogs in dental offices as anxiety resources would make the office a better environment for patients who still feel unsettled.

Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Dental Offices

1. They Comfort People With Disabilities

A recent study found that when patients with disabilities had therapy dogs next to them while getting anesthesia, they reported less anxiety before and after their sedation. Anxiety attacks can happen in the moments after inserting an anesthesia needle, when sitting still is most important.

Dogs can also sense when someone is experiencing anxiety because they feel it as well. Brain scans show similar brain activity when dogs and humans are around anxiety triggers. When a patient shows signs of discomfort, a dog can recognize how they feel and give them more attention because they empathize with the patient.

2. They Distract Anxious Minds

Fear becomes an overwhelming emotion when people can’t think about anything else. Grounding techniques can prevent that. Petting a dog and feeling their fur’s texture engages the senses, which decreases mild and severe anxiety by focusing the mind on environmental factors.

Instead of focusing on anxiety thoughts, the patients can pay attention to the dog and calm their nervous system. Given that 15–20% of people experience dental phobia, this could provide great comfort if dentists with therapy dogs become an industry standard.

3. They Bring Joy by Breaking Routine

Long-time dental patients might be anxious about the steps in their standard cleaning or x-ray routines. A therapy dog could break that routine and make it feel more controlled. The dog might bring the patient a basket with their free toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. As long as dental staff members watch for signs of itching and discomfort to catch issues like fleas, dogs would be a helpful addition to dental offices.

4. They Emphasize the Safe Environment

Anxiety may stem from traumatic stress caused by discomfort or pain in a patient’s dental history. The fear activates their nervous system, which may require more signs of environmental safety to put the patient at ease. They need something to physiologically calm their nerves rather than assurances that might otherwise persuade negative thoughts.

Dogs can’t hide when they’re scared. If an environment isn’t safe, they run away. When a dog can relax, wag their tail and even fall asleep, patients might trust that there’s no reason to be scared. People who don’t trust dentists will be more inclined to trust the dog, creating a safer environment without the dental staff changing their office or standard procedures.

5. They Entertain in the Waiting Room

Anxiety can snowball in waiting rooms as patients are left alone with their fears. Therapy dogs are a pleasant distraction. They show their need for attention by nudging hands for pets or staring with their big eyes. Patients may be more inclined to give them attention than read passive magazines waiting on a coffee table.

Scared children could also have more fun playing with the office’s therapy dog in the waiting room. It would put their mind at ease and make their parents more comfortable. Interacting with a dog could be a better form of waiting room entertainment that keeps patients from focusing on their anxiety.

The Future Has Dogs in Dental Offices

Dentists with therapy dogs could help their anxious patients more effectively. Dogs would function as a grounding resource and a form of reassurance. As long as they stay current on their vaccinations and take flea-preventing medications, therapy dogs could become more common in dental offices.