CHARLOTTE, N.C. 鈥� The first time 11-year-old Levi McAllister had a tooth pulled, he screamed, kicked, and struggled so much that his mom had to hold him down.
So when Levi returned to Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry in January to get two more teeth pulled, dental hygienist Barb Kucera had a surprise for him: a friendly yellow Labrador retriever named Atkins.
鈥淲ould you like Atkins to lie on your lap?鈥� she asked.
Levi nodded, and Kucera helped Atkins hop into the dental chair and rest her head on a pillow on Levi鈥檚 chest. As Levi stroked the soft fur on Atkins鈥� ears, the dentist numbed Levi鈥檚 mouth and eased out two of his teeth.
鈥淭he dog made me feel happy and calm,鈥� Levi said.
Across the country, a growing number of dentists are bringing in four-legged staff members to reduce stress for both children and adults 鈥� typically at no additional cost to patients. Dental patients at a practice in Green Bay, Wisconsin, can cuddle with a cockapoo named Charlie, for instance, while those at a practice in Nashville, Tennessee, visit with PeeWee, a French bulldog. In Cornelius, North Carolina, Whalen Dentistry advertises that a goldendoodle named Beamer will 鈥渕ake any appointment a little less鈥UFF!鈥�
Yet the proliferation of dental dogs highlights a surprising lack of regulation. In most states, nothing prevents a dentist from bringing in an untrained pet and calling it a comfort or therapy dog, possibly putting patients at risk for an infection or a dog attack. Patients with allergies or a fear of dogs might also have concerns.
In North Carolina, complaints from patients concerned about sanitation and safety prompted state regulators to approve a rule allowing only certain types of highly trained dogs in dental exam rooms. It took effect in June 2021 and is thought to be the first regulation of its kind nationwide.
experience dental anxiety and fear. For them, a visit to the dentist can be terrifying, and research indicates dogs can help. A published in the journal Animals found that patients with a fear of the dentist who had a dog lie on their laps during treatment experienced a decrease in their stress and blood pressure levels.
Other research shows animals in health care facilities can reduce the perception of pain and boost patients鈥� moods.
The Americans with Disabilities Act allows people with disabilities to bring a service dog into health care facilities, including dental clinics. Such animals do not pose a significant risk of transmitting infection in a dentist鈥檚 office, according to the .
The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners published an initial rule that would have allowed only service dogs for patients with disabilities in dental exam rooms, effectively banning 鈥渞ehabilitative facility dogs鈥� like Atkins. In response, dog lovers and dental patients flooded the board with emails, said Bobby White, the board鈥檚 CEO and legal counsel.
The board then proposed also allowing facility dogs in dental offices.
Facility dogs get the same intense training as service dogs but learn tasks to help many people, rather than just one, said Kyria Henry Whisenhunt. She鈥檚 the executive director and founder of , the North Carolina-based nonprofit that trained Atkins and three other dental dogs in the state.
Facility dogs are trained to work in specific professional environments, Whisenhunt said. For instance, Atkins had to be desensitized to sounds such as the screech of the dentist鈥檚 drill. The dog also had to practice laying her head on a patient鈥檚 lap and staying still while a dentist works.
Other facility dogs work with professionals in special education, physical and occupational therapy, and mental health care.
The new North Carolina regulation defines a 鈥渃ertified facility dog鈥� as one trained in a program accredited by an organization that promotes training standards for assistance dogs, such as or . It also requires the dog鈥檚 handler to be trained and certified.
鈥淥ur whole goal was to make sure the dogs are safe,鈥� White said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of difference between a facility dog that has special training and a person who goes on the internet, buys a vest, and puts it on a Chihuahua.鈥�
The Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State searched laws and regulations in all 50 states for KHN and found that only Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia specifically prohibit animals (except for service animals) in dental facilities. Center attorney Rebecca Wisch found no other guidelines related to dogs in a dental office. 鈥淚 think the NC regulation is unique,鈥� she said in an email.
Dr. James Sparks, an Oklahoma dentist who is president of the , said he wasn鈥檛 aware of any similar laws. He added that he personally would never bring an animal into his practice. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 take the chance of a dog jumping up while I do work,鈥� he said.
Atkins, who is 6 years old, received 600 hours of training from Paws4people. She and Kucera then trained together for an additional 50 hours. There was no charge for Kucera to get Atkins, but she had to commit to raise $10,000 for the foundation. Although Atkins lives with Kucera, she is owned by Paws4people.
On the days Atkins works at Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry, a sign in the reception area alerts patients that a dog is on duty. If someone has allergies or a fear of dogs, the staff puts Atkins in her kennel in a back room.
For the youngest patients, Atkins jumps into the dental chair and models behavior. She gets her own clip-on napkin and holds her mouth open while Kucera checks her teeth with a mirror.
When patients want Atkins in their laps, Kucera uses a disposable drape to create a barrier between the patient鈥檚 clothing and the dog so the patient doesn鈥檛 go home covered with dog hair. She said that she鈥檚 never had a problem with Atkins disturbing a dentist鈥檚 work and that many families request the pooch for every appointment.
Levi said that鈥檚 his plan, too. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just really helpful,鈥� he said. 鈥淓veryone should have one.鈥�