Dental phobia is an intense fear that causes individuals to avoid the dentist. Several adult patients that would be classified as having “dental phobia” now come to our office because of ATKINS and the animal-assisted intervention she provides. The quality of life of these patients has improved because they have received much needed dental care.
It is common knowledge that the majority of our patients would rather be anywhere else than in the dental chair. It is estimated that 80% of dental patients have some degree of anxiety. ATKINS creates a fun, relaxing dental experience that benefits a wide range of patients, from those who just love dogs to those who have dental phobia.
There are many other factors to consider before bringing a Service Facility Dog into your practice: a solid workplace plan that includes “dog free” zones for allergy/fear prevention, staff training, a page dedicated to your dog on your website with FAQ, liability insurance and a strategy to overcome objections from staff/patients. My long-term goal is to help incorporate the utilization of Service Facility Dogs in dental offices nationwide. In order for this goal to become a reality, it is vital that as dental professionals we become educated on how to ensure the success of Service Facility Dogs in a dental office. I have developed a CE Course, “Best Practices for Utilizing a Service Facility Dog in a Dental Practice. If you would like information about this course please feel free to contact me at BKuceraRDH@gmail.com, and feel free to follow our journey on our Facebook page!
Posted November 05, 2019
Long before most patients visit a dentist, they try to take a look at a map. They need to know where the office is located, and those that don’t show up rarely get contacted. If you want to literally put your dental office on the map, you need to invest in local search engine optimization […]
Posted June 21, 2019
Spend more time with family. Have more time to pursue hobbies, go back to college, or write a book. Earn extra income to supplement your current job. Why do you want to temp as a dental assistant or hygienist? Temping in a dental office can be a super-convenient way to earn while maintaining a flexible […]
Posted May 24, 2019
So you’ve decided to find a new job—only to discover that the market is scarce. Job markets (like any market) ebb and flow. Some months, like September and October, are better than others because a lot of companies want to hire before the frenzy of the holidays. Other months, like June and July, aren’t so […]