Monday, May 13, 2013

Going to the dentist is for the birds.

A patient's view at The Toothboss
Actually, the birds are for the patients. At least that’s what we tell patients when seated in our examination rooms and looking out the window to see a plethora of birds feasting at our bird feeder. The fact is we enjoy checking out the cardinals, finches, chickadees, woodpeckers and other birds those feeders attract.

Going to the dentist can be an unnerving experience for some patients. With our newly renovated waiting room and office area, as well as our examination rooms, we try to create a calming, stress-free environment. The bird feeders are part of that effort (we also have a fish tank in the dental hygienist’s examination room).

The bird feeders serve a couple of purposes. First, they offer a distraction for patients to take their mind off what the work being done (we positioned the feeders so patients can view the birds and keep their head in position for their examination). Second, bird-watching does have a soothing effect. This can be particularly effective with younger patients who are easily distracted.


For some patients, a trip to the dentist can cause debilitating anxiety that interferes with the dentist being able to do their work. For some people who are biters, their anxiety can create a dangerous situation for the dentist. That’s why many dental practices, including The Toothboss, offer sedation therapy as a stress-free way to get your dental work done.