Sometimes when at the dentist office kids can feel a little nervous, but with a little help they can become more relaxed. An example of this can be seen through the heartwarming story of Aldo, a therapy dog that helps young Ecuadorian children relax at the dentists office. Aldo helps children by sitting with them and snuggling with them during their dental appointments.
Aldo has about 5 years of experience in emotional support. At 8 years old, he understands about 30 commands. His owner is dentist Glenda Arias. With Aldo, visits become more relaxed and peaceful rather than being traumatic for the young children. Arias has said that Aldo’s involvement in the dental clinic is essential and has helped to transform the behavior of children. Aldo snuggles up with children during their dental procedures, which makes them feels safe and more comfortable during their appointments, leading to easier appointments.
Aldo has quickly become a celebrity in Ecuador, even going on national television. Aldo has also gone viral after the dental office started sharing wholesome videos of him with some of the patients. Some patients and their parents have shared their experiences with Aldo, expressing their positive feelings for the treatment. People in social media have described it as a “beautiful project” and praising the dental office. Many videos of Aldo helping out in the office can be found in various social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. This goes to show that Aldo doesn’t only impact the children whom he helps, but he has a worldwide impact on how oral health is viewed. With his social media appearances Aldo teaches children worldwide that the dentist can be viewed as something fun and welcoming.
Experiences in the dental office as children can seriously impact children’s views on dental health in the future, if children have traumatic encounters in the dental office they can grow up to have dental anxiety, and not take good care of their oral health’s; therefore, healthy encounters at the dentist are crucial. Having Aldo in the dental office allows children to feel safe and comfortable, which leads to a more healthy relationship with the dental clinic. Positive experiences in the dental office early on in life can impact their oral health habits through their life later on. Children who have positive experiences with dental offices are less likely to develop dental anxiety, thus they are more likely to schedule checkups more often to take care of their oral health. Aldo helps children develop better oral health because he helps them to develop a better relationships with oral care.
Essentially, Aldo increasingly helps Ecuadorian children to develop healthy relationships with oral care. Through his skills, Aldo helps children to build up kids’ comfort, leading to more trust and cooperation. Aldo’s presence in the clinic leads to a child friendly environment, changing their perspectives on oral care. Aldo not only helps to build a more comfortable environment and has a positive impact on their overall wellbeing, but Aldo also changes their future life.
Written by Julia Dos Santos