GSDM Student Organization Develops “Social Stories” for Pediatric Patients and Patients with Disabilities
The prospect of a dental visit, with its unfamiliar setting and the fear of the unknown, can be frightening, especially for pediatric patients and patients with disabilities. To help patients manage these anxieties, the GSDM Chapter of American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) is creating a series of GSDM-specific “social stories,” visual narratives depicting various parts of a dental appointment experience.
According to Sophia Pirinea CAMED 22 DMD 26, president of GSDM’s AADMD chapter, the new social stories will depict everything a patient experiences, from walking into the building to the different steps of a dental appointment. The goal is to increase patient understanding and enhance the patient-provider experience, said Pirinea.
“The hardest part about coming to the dentist for a lot of people is just getting into the chair and knowing what to expect,” Pirinea said. “The social stories make it more predictable and more routine in a new environment.”
The social stories will include photos and captions of people walking up the front steps, checking in, sitting in the waiting room, having their blood pressure checked, and experiencing parts of a dental appointment.
“I think that it will ease the fear of the unknown,” Pirinea said. “The fear of the unknown of knowing what our facility looks like, knowing that this is the chair they’re going to sit in, knowing that this blood pressure cuff is going to go on you. The more times you can expose someone to new stuff, the better.”
Pirinea hopes that the social stories will ultimately live on the GSDM website so that patients can have easy access to them before their appointment. Going forward, she wants to make additional social stories outlining common dental procedures, such as routine cleanings.
“I know that the dentist isn’t everyone’s favorite place, whether you’re neurotypical or neurodivergent,” Pirinea said. “I’m excited for our patients to hopefully have a better experience.”