Dental spa
Encyclopedia
A Dental Spa is a dental
facility supervised by a licensed dentist in which dental services are provided alongside spa
treatments.
In 2003, Lynn Watanabe, DDS of the Dental Spa in Pacific Palisades, California and the Day Spa Association defined a dental spa as "a facility whose dental program is run under the strict supervision of a licensed dentist. Services are provided that integrate both traditional and non-traditional dental and spa treatments (such as massage therapy, skincare and body treatments)."
"Spa dentistry" refers to dental practices that offer many services not normally associated with dental care: facials, paraffin wax hand treatment, reflexology, micro-dermabrasion, massage therapy, Botox and Restylane treatment, and many other pampering, therapeutic and rejuvenating offerings. (Note: The administration of botox and restylane is based on each respective state's dental board approval. Check with appropriate state dental boards regarding the regulation of this type of practice.)
The American Dental Association notes that the consumer media have coined the term “dental spa,” but many practices offer services and amenities specifically designed to relax patients without considering themselves a “spa.” The loose definition of “dental spas” makes it difficult if not impossible to know how many dental spas exist in the United States. See "Variations of the Dental Spa Concept" section below.
occurred in 1954. Dental anxiety has been a well-studied phenomenon since the late 1960s. Since then, studies and several books report successful treatment of patients with dental fear using behavioral methods.
1987 Dr. Harvey Silverman opened the Aesthetic Smile Center in June 1987, providing not only dentistry, but hot oil facials, massages, and a whirlpool.
1996 Lorin Berland DDS, began providing a massage therapist on staff.
1999 On July 11, 1999, the New York Times reported several Long Island dentists were offering "distraction techniques" by offering massage therapy to their patients. The article reports that massage services were offered since early 1999.
2002 On August 12, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported Lynn Watanabe, DDS, one of the field's "pioneers," opened "Dental Spa" in Pacific Palisades, California with a full-time esthetician and full-time massage therapist.
2009 Mickelwait Family Dentistry & Spa of Mount Vernon, WA was the first dental spa to open in Skagit and Whatcom counties in Washington state. Washington allows Botox and dermal fillers to be performed by a doctor of dental surgery.
, Finland
; California, "Northwoods Dental Spa" (2004) in San Antonio, Texas
, USA
; and "Dental Spa" in Seoul
, Korea
.
design into the office space. Perhaps the most key spa dentistry treatment is massage, which is known to release endorphins and lower blood pressure. Normal dental office anxiety can raise blood pressure and encourage the production of adrenaline, decreasing the effectiveness of anesthesia. Massage can offset these undesirable effects, in turn requiring less chemical anesthesia for the same numbing effects. See video of dental spas, including massage therapists, profiled on The Early Show on CBS in March 2002.
and Finland. In 2007, the ADA estimated that possibly that one in every 20 dental offices in the United States actually offers, to some extent, some spa dentistry services to their patients.
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
facility supervised by a licensed dentist in which dental services are provided alongside spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
treatments.
In 2003, Lynn Watanabe, DDS of the Dental Spa in Pacific Palisades, California and the Day Spa Association defined a dental spa as "a facility whose dental program is run under the strict supervision of a licensed dentist. Services are provided that integrate both traditional and non-traditional dental and spa treatments (such as massage therapy, skincare and body treatments)."
"Spa dentistry" refers to dental practices that offer many services not normally associated with dental care: facials, paraffin wax hand treatment, reflexology, micro-dermabrasion, massage therapy, Botox and Restylane treatment, and many other pampering, therapeutic and rejuvenating offerings. (Note: The administration of botox and restylane is based on each respective state's dental board approval. Check with appropriate state dental boards regarding the regulation of this type of practice.)
The American Dental Association notes that the consumer media have coined the term “dental spa,” but many practices offer services and amenities specifically designed to relax patients without considering themselves a “spa.” The loose definition of “dental spas” makes it difficult if not impossible to know how many dental spas exist in the United States. See "Variations of the Dental Spa Concept" section below.
Background
One of the main reasons people avoid visiting the dentist is dental anxiety. Dental anxiety drives some people to create more dental problems by not visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Patients who are high in dental anxiety have the greatest likelihood of avoiding dental treatment. An estimated nine percent to fifteen percent of the American population—about 30 million to 40 million people—avoid essential dental care because of fear or anxiety.Studies on Managing Dental Patient Fear Through Comfort
The first known scientific study on dental fearDental fear
Dental fear refers to the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. A severe form of this fear is variously called dental phobia, odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia, or dental anxiety...
occurred in 1954. Dental anxiety has been a well-studied phenomenon since the late 1960s. Since then, studies and several books report successful treatment of patients with dental fear using behavioral methods.
The First Dental Spas
Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Chinese all used certain methods to relax a person suffering from ailments such as a toothache. The "barber surgeon" in the 18th and 19th century allowed barbers to perform some dental procedures as well as shaves and haircuts. The term "spa dentistry" (presently synonymous to dental spa) actually was used in the 18th century to describe dental practitioners in Bath England. Ms. Curris, a woman dentist in 18th Century Bath England likely created the first dental spa offering patients dentistry with skin and bodycare. Perhaps one could argue those dental practitioners in 18th Century Bath England were the "first dental spas."1980s
1986 Debra Grant created Perioromatherapy: The Original Dental Spa in Boca Raton, FL.1987 Dr. Harvey Silverman opened the Aesthetic Smile Center in June 1987, providing not only dentistry, but hot oil facials, massages, and a whirlpool.
1990s
1994 London's The Guardian has identified the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry as "one of the first of these new dental spas.” The February 19, 2007 reported that Debra Gray King, DDS, began providing spa services at the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry in 1994.1996 Lorin Berland DDS, began providing a massage therapist on staff.
1999 On July 11, 1999, the New York Times reported several Long Island dentists were offering "distraction techniques" by offering massage therapy to their patients. The article reports that massage services were offered since early 1999.
2000s
2001 On October 1, 2002, Salt Lake Magazine reported that the Dental Spa in Sugarhouse provided patients with complimentary spa services such as temple massage, hand treatments, eye masks, and other techniques aimed at calming the patients. The spa services were provided since the Spa's inception in 2001.2002 On August 12, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported Lynn Watanabe, DDS, one of the field's "pioneers," opened "Dental Spa" in Pacific Palisades, California with a full-time esthetician and full-time massage therapist.
2009 Mickelwait Family Dentistry & Spa of Mount Vernon, WA was the first dental spa to open in Skagit and Whatcom counties in Washington state. Washington allows Botox and dermal fillers to be performed by a doctor of dental surgery.
Other Early Adapters
The Wall Street Journal noted some of early Dental Spas in the world include Wynn Okuda of Honolulu, Debra King of Atlanta, Jeff Golub-Evans of New York, and Grace Sun of Los Angeles, Some later adapters of the dental spa concept include "Cocosmile" (2005) in HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
; California, "Northwoods Dental Spa" (2004) in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; and "Dental Spa" in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
Commercial Use of the Name "Dental Spa"
The terms, “dental spa” and “spa dentistry,” began to be more publicly used in the late 1990s. In 1998, Lorin Berland DDS, reserved the name DallasDentalSpa.com.Variations of the Dental Spa Concept
Although there are many variations, adapters of the dental spa concept generally offer cosmetic, general, and restorative dentistry with a key focus on making the visit a pampering and pleasant experience.Faux Dental Spas
On one end of the spectrum, some dental offices have done little more than adding candles, flat-screen TVs, cookies and juice in the reception area and call themselves a dental spa.Dental Med Spas
On the other end, other dental offices have combined with spas, plastic surgeons, hair salons and other healthcare, spa and beauty industry professionals.Feng Shui
Some of the dental spa providers have incorporated Feng ShuiFeng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
design into the office space. Perhaps the most key spa dentistry treatment is massage, which is known to release endorphins and lower blood pressure. Normal dental office anxiety can raise blood pressure and encourage the production of adrenaline, decreasing the effectiveness of anesthesia. Massage can offset these undesirable effects, in turn requiring less chemical anesthesia for the same numbing effects. See video of dental spas, including massage therapists, profiled on The Early Show on CBS in March 2002.
Professional Associations
In 1978, the Holistic Dental Association was formed to focus on the mind-body connection and the dental patient's well being. Spa dentistry is presently recognized by the International Medical Spa Association and the Day Spa Association, but similar to the field of cosmetic dentistry, is not recognized as a specialty practice area by the American Dental Association. In 2002, Lynn Watanabe, DDS founded the first dental spa association with the creation of the International Dental Spa Association. The New York Times reported in 2006 that "it now has ten members and are coming up with guidelines for what services constitute a dental spa."Prevalence
In 2003, the American Dental Association reported that more than 50% of 427 practicing dentists surveyed at their annual session offered some sort of spa or office amenity. In 2005, as many as 5% of the American Dental Association's more than 152,000 members had declared themselves "dental spas", a number then growing daily in the U.S. and in other countries, including Panama, Korea, BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Finland. In 2007, the ADA estimated that possibly that one in every 20 dental offices in the United States actually offers, to some extent, some spa dentistry services to their patients.
External links
- Say Ahh! at the Dental Spa Fox News. Accessed September 13, 2007.