I have to say, one of my least favorite activities growing up was going to the dentist. Because I had a huge sweet tooth as a child, I would always have at least one cavity I needed to get treated without fail at every visit. It was honestly the worst feeling to have your teeth drilled into. Who would like such a painful thing?
The Pediatric Dentistry of Northbrook, a dentist practice in Illinois, knew that people sometimes felt uncomfortable visiting the office. That’s why they decided to employ the help of a furry friend…
Meet JoJo. He’s a trained comfort dog that the dentist practice uses to comfort nervous children. Veronica Renteria, a clinic staffer, said,
“A lot of the time, those patients would need nitrous oxide or other sedative to help them relax.But when JoJo comes in with them and sits in the chair, they’re comforted. They can just sit and pet her as they’re getting their teeth cleaned. She’s does a great job with them.”
“When the patients are very anxious or scared, they tend to move around a lot. When JoJo is there, the appointments go much smoother and quicker for them. And the doctor gets to perform the work as it’s meant to be done.”
JoJo allows patients to feel comfortable without having to resort to additional medication.
“A lot of the patients who normally were very apprehensive about even walking in the door now look forward to their appointments. The moment you walk in, you feel very relaxed. There she is, waiting for you to pet her.”
Everyone at the practice absolutely loves JoJo.
“She loves coming in. She’s very well trained and knows what she’s doing. We all benefit from her so much.”
What did you think about JoJo the assistant dog? We want to hear your thoughts. Let us know in the comments below!
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Thank you JoJo for all that you do!
