Keeping patients calm in a dental office could help ease their anxiety before their exam. An easy way to do this is by using scent solutions like aromatherapy in the front office while they wait for their appointment.
Ambient scenting, also known as aromatherapy, can be used in the waiting room of a dental office to calm the nerves of patients.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, around 36% of people in America have a fear of dental treatment. 12% of them report having an “extreme fear.” The organization reports that about 3% of adults in industrialized countries have dentophobia, which is the fear of going to the dentist.
While ambient scenting won’t resolve this fear, it could help ease some of your patients anxious feelings and set a good tone for your office. These scents can alleviate stress and make your patients feel safe and confident in your business.
There are several distinctive smells that float around a dental office. These scents common in dental offices can leave a negative impression on patients.
Dental procedures can also set off an unwelcome aroma. Most of the time the “tooth dust” created during procedures that involve drilling stay in the room with the patient receiving the treatment, but you can minimize that by using scents of lavender, apple, or orange within the room. Reducing the spread with water and air suction helps with the smell as well.
Benefits of Aromatherapy
- Calm setting
- Positive emotions
- Masks bad odors
Using calming ambient scents in your dental office can help a patient who may be experiencing stress induced anxiety. Scents of lavender and orange are known to improve a person’s mood and keep them calm before receiving dental treatment.
What scents should I use?
- Lavender: Calms patients, promotes relaxation, soothes those experiencing dental anxiety
- Vanilla: Can help lower blood pressure, decreases claustrophobia
- Citrus/fruit scents: Lifts a patient’s mood, relieve upset stomachs, a little bundle of zen
Not only can using scent solutions help your patients, but it can boost the overall morale of the office and promote a better work environment.
Natscent has been unlocking the power of smell for businesses. They report that a person’s mood can improve up to 40% when exposed to pleasant fragrances. You can add value to your dental office with scents because it plays into a patient’s overall experience.
Certain scents can raise the perception of care quality, reduce the perception of wait times, and give a positive placebo effect.
The better experience they have, the more likely they are to return and recommend your business to others.
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