Scented Memories

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

Walking into my grandmother’s house, the smell of baked bread would often waft through the door. Even today, when I take a loaf of crusty bread from the oven, my mind flashes back to times sitting on a barstool at the kitchen counter, slathering butter and homemade jam over a warm, gooey slice.

Smells and memories are very much intertwined. The scent of a particular perfume may remind you of a Great-Aunt long gone, or the smell of a favorite dessert may remind you of a family event from childhood that meant very much to you. Smells can also trigger negative feelings and memories; perhaps the smell of burning rubber reminds you of the time your car broke down in the rain, on the way to an important meeting. Certainly the smell of a medical or dental office has its own unique memory association; perhaps the clinical smell of the waiting room or exam seats bring instant fears to the surface.

Because our goal at World of Smiles is to create a positive, warm, and inviting environment for children to become acclimated in, smell becomes a large factor in what we try to provide. Ensuring that we steer clear of that “dental office smell” which can trigger fearful memories in both children and their caregivers is a top priority. We are able to achieve a non-clinical type smell by avoiding certain dental products that foster that smell, and we use our favorite Scentsy warmers to provide a welcoming scent when our families walk in, usually of warm vanilla.

As we work to create a generation of children that do not fear the dentist, but look forward to maintaining a healthy smile, we hope to create a “happy smell” that will trigger a happy memory for them. We are sensitive to those patients who are sensitive to perfumes, candles, and other scents – so families should always feel welcome to inform us if they need the scents removed while they are present.

Tags: Happy and fun dental office for kids

Written by Michelle Stafford, DDS