Dog at Woodbury’s Applewood Dental Eases Patients’ Anxiety

Applewood Family Dental has something to ease kids’ fears about going to the dentist. And it’s not a lollipop. 

The Woodbury dental office has a registered therapy dog, a 4-year-old cocker spaniel named Molly.

“I’m trying to reach out to that segment of the population that won’t see a dentist, wouldn’t consider doing just routine stuff to keep the preventive aspect of things under control,” Dr. Brian Kraby told the Star Tribune.

Molly and her handler were trained at AllBreed Obedience School in Woodbury, according to a post on the Applewood Family Dental website. Molly, a therapy dog since 2012, has her Canine Good Citizens certificate and is also a Pet Partners Registered Therapy Dog.

The idea initially came from Mary Reck, Applewood dental assistant and Molly’s trainer, and while Kraby initially wasn’t sold on the idea, he quickly came around, according to the Star Tribune.

“I’m trying to reach out to that segment of the population that won’t see a dentist, wouldn’t consider doing just routine stuff to keep the preventive aspect of things under control,” Kraby told the newspaper.

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