By Debra Grant

Something happens to you when you walk into an environment. Your first impressions are remembered forever.

What do we want our patients to experience in the dental office? The latest concept, based on patient’s response and referral, is for them to feel valued and nurtured as a dental patient. Patients report that they want to not feel fearful at the dental office and they want to not feel like a number or a way to “pay for the doctor’s vacation.” In order to create a pleasant warm vibe for a dental office, you need to consider these four senses: Sound, Sight, Smell and Touch.

If you are a Dental Spa, you want to have “Spa Music”. Natural sounds, like water, birds, environmental sounds and calm, relaxing music. Golden oldies or jazz won’t work in a Dental Spa. The in-office chatter and gossip should be kept at bay because patients really do hear. Especially when they are frightened, they listen for everything.

The vision of non-clutter and cleanliness, not necessarily sterility but a clutter free environment, means no charts, brochures, pamphlets set on table tops, no posters taped or tacked on walls. Patients cannot see nor do they read from the dental chair. They want to walk into an environment without visual noise. Wires and cords should be maintained and controlled.

The Feng Shui of the office is very important. Colors are to be considered along with arrangement of furniture and equipment. The visual of everything wrapped in plastic is a non-welcoming environment, those days are over. We wipe everything down in our treatment rooms, so why the need for unsterile and non-ecofriendly plastics all over the equipment?

The smells of Eugenol, decay, or a scented candle that was re-gifted for a Christmas gift are scents that are not pleasing to everyone. Eugenol, Oil of Clove, has great antiseptic properties but can also increase one’s blood pressure. Just because one person or even the entire office personnel may love a particular scent doesn’t mean that we have to subject our patients to it.

There are allergies with essential oils or fragrances that all dental offices are not aware of unless you are trained in aromatherapy science. They can have reactions from skin sensitivities, to lung and breathing problems or even anaphylactic shock. Aromatherapy in the dental office can be beneficial and extremely useful to anxiety-ridden patients when used properly.

Touching, tactile sensitivity and general care and concern are what hygienists do best. Hygienists are the one person in the dental practice that the majority of patients confide in and trust. Patients have the most intimate one-on-one time with their dental hygienist. This makes the hygienist the most key influencer in the dental practice. Something the dentist should recognize and celebrate.

There is only one treatment that currently addresses the safety and use of all of these senses in the dental office, and that is Oraspa. Oraspa is a therapeutic treatment provided during the prophy by an Oraspa therapist, which can be a dental hygienist or dentist. For more information, contact Amanda@oraspa.com.

References

1. P. Doerr, W. Lang, L. Nyquist, D. Ronis Factors Associated with Dental Anxiety. JADA 1998; 129:1111-19

2. M. Mansky, DDS, A Question about Those Connections. Dental Economics. August 1998: 88(8) 65-67

3. L. Lefer, DDS, MD.Personal Communication October 1967

4. Locker D, Liddell AM. Correlates of dental anxiety among older adults. J Dent Res 1991; 70(3):198-203

5. C. Jepsen, DDS Behavioral Foundations of Dental Practice. Clinical Dentistry; Vol. 5, Chapter 23:1-18

6. E. Olmstead, Oraspa Certification Course Manual, 2006 Edition; The Team Builder

Debra Grant is the owner of the Chicago-based dental spa consulting and event planning company, D Grant & Associates, Inc. Contact her at debralgrant@gmail.com.