Dental offices aren’t known for being places of calm and comfort, but at a few practices in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, there is one team member hoping to change that reputation. Finley, a golden retriever with a superhuman sense of smell, is Canada’s first medical scent-detection dog trained specifically for oral surgery. His job is to provide emotional support and detect if patients are stressed before they even know that they’re anxious.
Dr. Louis Bourget introduced Finley into his dental practices in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to address fear around dental anxiety. According to recent statistics, around 40% of Canadians have a strong fear of going to the dentist, with many of them skipping treatment entirely due to this fear. This can result in worsening oral health, and in turn, a growing need for intricate procedures later on. Dr. Bourget sensed an opportunity to make a change using Finley’s extraordinary skills.
Unlike therapy dogs who provide general emotional support, Finley is extensively trained in the detection of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. He was selected as a puppy for training due to his intelligence, temperament, and eagerness to work. With guidance from scent detection expert Bill Grimmer, as well as the assistance of Medical Detection Dogs UK, this special dog is trained to find the indicators of stress in patients. When Finley detects a patient’s distress, he moves to comfort them, signaling Dr. Bourget to either reassure, slow down a procedure, or use relaxation techniques to help patients feel more at ease.
“Patients often say to me they didn’t even know how anxious they were until Finley noticed it,” says Dr. Bourget. “He has a way of reading emotions that we as humans miss sometimes. It transforms the whole patient experience.”
The scientific rationale behind Finley’s role is compelling. Studies show that interacting with trained service animals can lower cortisol and blood pressure levels and act as a calming therapy. In an environment where patients are feeling exposed and vulnerable, this physiological reaction can mean everything. Dental anxiety is not only an emotional issue – it can affect how a patient tolerates procedures, how they recover from surgery, and whether they decide to return for routine care. With his ability to reduce anxiety and make a patient feel calm, Finley makes a real contribution to improving long-term oral health.
His presence has been beneficial for the clinic’s staff as well. High-stakes procedures and emotionally taxing cases can weigh on medical teams, creating stress and burnout. Finley, meanwhile, serves as a silent support, supplying a nudge or a touch of company for those who require it. “It’s easy to overlook that the people taking care of people need care too. Finley takes care of all of us, not just the patients,” says Dr. Bourget.
Finley’s success has led to a wider interest in the role of scent-detection dogs in medicine. Their capacity to detect diseases like cancer and diabetes is well known, but their involvement in measuring stress is still developing. Dr. Bourget thinks that his practice is just scratching the surface of what these animals can do. “The potential is immense in this place. If Finley can revolutionize the dental experience, imagine what dogs like him could accomplish in hospitals, mental health clinics, or emergency rooms,” he says.
There’s also hope that scent detection dogs could aid in identifying patients with conditions that affect dental health. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels are associated with gum disease, bruxism, and slowed post-surgery recovery, studies reveal. Using Finley’s capabilities, dentists might identify these problems at an early stage and provide preventive treatment before symptoms escalate.
For now, Finley works his magic one patient at a time. Whether it’s a child facing their first oral surgery or an adult recovering from decades of dental fear, his steady presence affords an unexpected comfort. His success is a reminder that advances in health care don’t always involve innovative technology. Sometimes, it’s got four legs and a wagging tail.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of experienced healthcare writers and editors, led by managing editor Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare journalism. Since 1998, our team has delivered trusted, high-quality health and wellness content across numerous platforms.
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