Snoezelen comes from the Dutch words “snuffelen,” which means to explore, and “doezelen,” which means to relax. A Snoezelen room is a controlled, multisensory, therapeutic environment that soothes and helps reduce anxiety. Traditionally, health care environments have bright, fluorescent overhead lights. Consider having all lights on dimmers so that light levels can be adjusted. “In most of our spaces, the lights are either off or notably dimmed for maximal patient relaxation and comfort,” Dr. Sigal says. Patients often say that natural light is an important element for their comfort. Consider windows with adjustable blinds in as many spaces as possible. Walls in most areas of Dr. Sigal’s office are painted in soft, neutral colours. “We don’t use bright colours, even though we are a space designed for children, because they can sometimes be too stimulating,” says Dr. Sigal. The office is scent free. “Smell greatly influences our emotions, but it is quite subjective depending on the person, so we felt it would be better to be scent free,” Dr. Sigal says. Spaces have adjustable music. “Music is also deeply emotional and can really help with calming feelings,” Dr. Sigal says. “It’s very important that patients can choose the music and how loud it is.” In the operatory, Dr. Sigal has a ceiling-mounted TV with a streaming service above the dental chair so that patients can select a program to watch during care. Patients are offered weighted blankets with Velcro closures that provide comfort and gentle protective stabilization. Thepanorex room is designed for thepatient to facea large window, looking outside, providing a sense of openness and other focal points of distraction. The panorex unit itself is a side-entry machine that is accessible, allowing image capture for those in wheelchairs or using assisted devices. “We also have a mirror situated to allow for patients, especially those who are hearing impaired, to be able to see our clinical staff while the image is being taken for feedback,” Dr. Sigal says. The waiting rooms at Dr. Sigal’s office offer other options for the senses. There are tactile toys, a rebounding trampoline for jumping, and a ball wall. There is a noise cancelling sound shell chair, which is a soft-cushioned chair that incorporates music and vibration. There are private spaces where patients and their caregivers can relax before or after treatment. The space room has a laser stars projector aimed at the ceiling and space-themed design features. With adjustable lighting and music, the room can be controlled to suit a patient’s wishes. The underwater room is located behind the waterfall feature, where the flowing water creates a shimmer throughout the room, and is decorated with underwater-themed images. Dr. Sigal says that a Snoezelen environment might also be helpful for people with dental anxiety. “We all are influenced by our sensory stimuli,” she says. “We know intuitively that factors such as enclosed spaces or artificial light can affect how we feel.” She also recognizes that dentistry has some features that can’t be altered, but the principles of a calming environment can be applied to settings such as the lobby References: 1. Lotan M. Gold C. Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of individual intervention in the controlled multisensory environment (Snoezelen®) for individuals with intellectual disability. J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2009;34:3:207-15. 2. Sigal A, Sigal M. The multisensory/snoezelen environment to optimize the dental care patient experience. Dent Clin North Am. 2022 Apr;66(2):209-28. Incorporating Snoezelen Elements in a Dental Practice or entrance, common areas, elevators, clinics, waiting areas, preadmission areas and patient treatment rooms. “I’m always looking for ways to improve. For some patients, the sound of the drill can cause anxiety. But the sound of cascading water can cancel out some of the high frequencies of the drill.” Her office has a floor-toceiling water feature that patients can touch and it can be heard from every room. 19 Issue 2 | 2023 | Issues and People
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