Seeing the dentist is stressful for many children, and parents often find it difficult to get their children to receive treatment with peace of mind. Yet in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, there is a special dental clinic, Palette Dental Clinic, that allows children to see the dentist happily and even reluctant to leave through the company of therapy dogs.
According to local media reports, Dr. Suzuki Nobue, the head of Palette Dental Clinic, has been introducing therapy dogs in the clinic since 20 years ago to alleviate children’s fear of dental treatment. At that time, regular dental check-ups were not yet widespread, and most patients came to see them because of toothache, resulting in children being resistant to treatment. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Suzuki hopes to change the child’s negative impression of the dentist and make treatment easy and enjoyable.
At Palette Dental, five rotating therapy dogs accompany children through treatment time. While waiting, the dog will interact with the child and after entering the treatment room, they will stay docilely beside the child, sometimes lying on the child’s belly or lap, bringing a sense of peace of mind. Some children even remain lingering after treatment, playing with their dogs and unwilling to go home.
Regarding the safety and hygiene of therapy dogs, Dr. Suzuki said that in 20 years the dogs in the clinic have never bitten or injured any child. Dogs are thoroughly cleaned before entering the clinic, including bathing, nail trimming, brushing and combing to ensure hygiene conditions meet standards. In addition, Dr. Suzuki holds a Level 1 Pet Care Manager qualification herself and works closely with owners of therapy dogs to ensure the dogs are adapted to the clinic environment.
Dr. Suzuki recalled the story of her first therapy dog, Flora. She was worried that the dog might not be able to tolerate the smell and noise of medicines in the clinic, so she conducted a brief adaptation test, which found Flora unwell and the children smiled in her company. More dogs subsequently joined, forming the current therapy dog team.
These dogs can not only soothe children who are afraid of treatment, but can even notice children with special needs and take the initiative to provide companionship. Dr. Suzuki also mentioned that some adult patients had not received treatment in the past for fear of seeing their dentist, but at Palette Dental Clinic, they finally plucked up the courage to successfully complete their treatment.
Twenty years ago Japanese society still generally believed that dogs should be kept outdoors, so the innovative model of Palette Dental Clinic had been controversial, and some dental associations and public health agencies even questioned its feasibility. Yet after fieldwork and strict health management, the authorities eventually endorsed this innovative approach.
Dr. Suzuki recently published a children’s book, The Magical Dog Dentist, which features Chinita, a therapy dog in the clinic, to convey to children the positive experience of seeing the dentist. In addition, she has written Doctor Grandma and Black Dog Dentist 1, which explores the association between oral health and psychological conditions in children.
With the successful experience of Palette Dental Clinic, more and more dentists are becoming interested in the “therapy dog accompanying treatment” model. Yet Dr. Suzuki stresses that this is not simply bringing the dog into the clinic, but requires a full understanding of the dog’s welfare, behavioral characteristics and child psychology to ensure the safety and comfort of both parties.
Dr. Suzuki reminds parents to adapt their children to dental treatment as early as possible to avoid worsening of tooth decay through preventive measures. If children can build a positive impression of the dentist from an early age, they will be able to maintain oral health more easily in the future. With the shift in social perceptions, this model of children’s dentistry, which combines animal therapies, will perhaps become a major trend in the future, allowing more children to walk into the clinic with a smile and say goodbye to their fear of dentists.
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