A study by the University of Westminster (London) found that after visiting an art gallery at lunchtime. The stress level of the respondents decreased significantly. This news is very beneficial for dentists, as some patients experience high levels of stress during their visit. Can a small, well-chosen picture in your clinic make life easier for nervous patients?
Creating a soothing space
A simple visit to the dentist's office can increase stress levels in some patients, so it is very important that your office is a pleasant and harmonious place to soothe and set up a positive wave. As mentioned earlier, seeing art reduces stress. However, not all are suitable, but only those objects (paintings, collages, posters, photographs) that can relax the anxious patient. It doesn't matter what genres and trends you personally prefer – this is the real taste. There are certain rules, and if you want your reception area to have the effect you want, stay away from contemporary art with its sharp lines and vibrant colours. Instead, choose soothing, calm scenes with soft or natural tones. The pictures will distract the restless patient's attention, but that's only half the story. It is important that the entire room has a calming energy. Therefore, the walls should be painted in pastel colors: sage, brown, pale yellow, etc.
As you know, spending time in nature reduces stress. Therefore, in the waiting room, you can mimic this effect by adding landscapes and houseplants to create a sense of calmness in patients.
How to distract children
If you can still somehow agree with adults, then with children everything is much more complicated. Their calmness and attitude can become decisive factors influencing the treatment and their attitude towards dentists in general. While this is largely dependent on the doctor's communication and behavior, you can try to distract your child from bad thoughts. While most of the art is most likely aimed at comforting patients of all ages, children need a separate approach.
Remember that the child starts to worry just before the procedure, so make sure there are plenty of soothing distractions in the waiting room — toys, games and books. Many dental clinics now use tablets with interactive games. Do not forget about the win-win classics — coloring and drawing, which always keep children busy. A study published by Drexel University College of Nursing and Health found that creativity (including painting) can lower cortisol levels by 75%. Therefore, coloring books, felt-tip pens and simple sheets of paper can significantly reduce stress by the time the child gets to the dental chair. For example, a child who takes 15 minutes to learn how to draw a cat not only acquires a new skill, but also focuses on creativity, rather than what will be done with it in the office. Among other things, some foreign clinics buy coloring books for adults, which are also not averse to drawing.
Calming the client is an important component of good practice. Creating a soothing environment is important for both adults and children, although both groups have different needs. Given the link between art and stress reduction, it is a good idea to think about art objects inside a treatment room.
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