DELTA DOGS HAVE DENTAL DRILL DOWN PAT
SOME may quiver at the thought of a trip to the dentist, but a furry companion is proving just enough to settle oncenervous patients at Corio Central Dental.
Once a week, the clinic welcomes two Delta Society therapy dogs, giving patients the chance to interact with them in the waiting room or even in the dentist chair to help ease their fears.
The presence of rottweiler-staffy cross Mr Rosser was a winner for sixyear-old Charlee Houghton.
Corio Central Dental practice manager, Dr Elizabeth Ladyjenski, said the service was available for people of all ages, usually identified in an initial appointment and given the choice of visiting the clinic on dog day Tuesday.
“If we have a particularly nervous patient, they can have a play in the waiting room to get themselves acclimatised, and if they choose to have them in the room, we have a little pedestal the therapy dog sits on and the patient can still reach when they’re reclined on the chair,” she said.
“People get really surprised. They’re familiar with therapy dogs in hospitals and nursing homes, but not in a dental practice.
“I have a dog that provides me great relaxation, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to have an animal that can offer support (when) humans or drugs can’t.”
Dr Ladyjenski said the program, which has been running for three months, had been particularly helpful managing anxiety for children with autism.
It is the first time Delta Society has provided therapy dogs for a dental surgery.