Christine Webb, Your Health and Fitness
Some dental offices around the country are using more than novocain to take the edge off having your teeth worked on -- they are creating dental spas.
Plush pillows, fresh flowers, scented candles, soothing fountains -- going to the dentist has never been so relaxing.
"About 50 percent of them offer some amenities just to make patients feel a little bit more comfortable and at home," said Dr. Ada Cooper, of the American Dental Association.
Patients at the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry might think they're in a spa. They're given complimentary hand and neck messages while having their teeth worked on.
"If we're working on a patient that is relaxed, it makes our job a lot easier," said Dr. Debra King, of the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry.
At the Mitchell Dental Spa in Chicago, patients are treated to free champagne in the waiting room and a cooling facial massage.
The American Dental Association encourages efforts to make a trip to the dentist more appealing, but has a warning -- fundamentally, if the dental care is not good, then all of these other things can really just serve as bells and whistles.
Experts recommend talking with your dentist to make sure you're not just being pampered, but that you're getting the best treatment available.
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