What is a dental therapy dog?
Therapy pets or emotional support animals provide comfort, affection, and support - especially in stressful situations. Our therapy dog, Dr. Steve, does the same, but he's trained specifically for a dental office setting. He'll sit on your lap during treatment and help you take your mind off your appointment and reassure you everything is ok. Bonus: He takes ear scratching and belly rubs as payment. Watch this short video to hear what a real patient has to say about Dr. Steve.The benefits of a therapy dog in a dental office
- Lower blood pressure and heart rate
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Lower the stress hormone; cortisol
- Release "feel-good" hormones; serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin
- Promote friendly social interaction
- Ease fear and anxiety
How Dr. Steve is eliminating dental fear and anxiety
Dr. Steve has made quite a name for himself in Huntersville, SC. Patients who used to avoid the dentist are now pushing through their fear or overcoming it entirely to finally receive the dental care they need, in large part due to Dr. Steve's presence during appointments. Dr. Steve will help you through:- Preventative dental care necessary for maintaining or improving your oral health
- Cosmetic dental work to improve your smile's appearance and boost your confidence
- Restorative treatments to rebuild your smile's function and bite, and get you out of any pain
Stop by and meet Steve
Next time you visit us, be on the lookout for Steve. You can usually find him hanging in the waiting room, playing in the hallway, or sitting with a patient. Did you know there are many other benefits to having a dog? Our friends over at Fluent Woof have compiled a comprehensive list of 102 scientific benefits of having a dog... Opens in a new tab to Fluent Woofs' Website. If you would like to have Steve by your side on your next scheduled appointment, just let us know! Request an Appointment Or contact us by:- Phone: {{office1-phone}}
- Email: {{office1-email}}
This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been completely revamped for comprehensiveness and timeliness.