Are you afraid to go to the dentist?

[Kadie]

check this out...
I love the picture with the dog.


Is the Spa Doc In?
Doctors benefit as much as the pampered patients at new dental, dermatological and gynecological spas
Katherine Seligman

Sunday, October 23, 2005

There are people who loathe going to the dentist, but Peggy Gill isn't one of them. On a recent visit, she reclined in a chair that could deliver a vibrating massage and listened to classical music in a lavender-scented room, her shoes off, a small dental bib secured around her neck. In the most unusual touch, her hands were encased in what looked like industrial oven mitts.

"I always get my hands dipped first," she said, draping them on the armrests before the dental hygienist arrived to scrape the plaque on her teeth. She was referring to the complimentary hand massage offered at the dentist's office, whose owner believes he's the first in Northern California to combine the word dental with the term spa.

The Cosmetic Dental Spa in Pleasant Hill provides routine and cosmetic dental services: X-rays, teeth cleaning, fillings, veneers, whitening. But it also offers full body massage and, coming soon, body waxing and facials.

"When they start the waxing, I'll do that," said Gill, who first came to Dr. Ricardo Perez for veneers to repair damage from years of teeth grinding but keeps making the drive from Antioch for her regular cleanings. And the extras. She knows to head first for the container of warm paraffin, where she dips her hands the requisite three times, puts on plastic gloves and the mitts. Only then, as Gill's fingers marinate, does the hygienist start chiseling. Soon the aesthetician arrives, applying massage oil and kneading Gill's hands and arms. Gill sighs.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/23/CMG9TET4GR1.DTL



Patients get pampered at new dental, dermatological and gynecological spas. Photo illustration by davidwaldorf.com

[RevCheesehead]

1. Do they do dogs, too?

I don't fear dentists, but I certainly don't enjoy them, either.

I go to a dentist whose practice is called "Gentle Dental" - and he is wonderful. But after having TWO root-canals last year, I'm in no hurry to return. Having no dental insurance makes it even less likely I'll be back anytime soon.

[mac56]

2. Sure this isn't from The Onion?

This has got to be a joke.

Good luck, anyone who doesn't have dental insurance...

[AwakeAtLast]

3. I would definitely sign up for that!

Who has time to make two appointments? This would be so great, but I don't think my dental insurance would pay the whole thing!

[Dangerously Amused]

4. Afraid of the dentist? Two words: Nitrous Oxide.

I used to be upset for three days before a dentist visit... poor sleep, sick to my stomach, etc. Then I found a dentist who put me on nitrous oxide the whole time. O.M.G. It was like night and day. Now I actually look forward to going to the dentist, no lie. It's a wonderful - and legal - high. When I am on that stuff, I don't care how long I have to stay in that chair, and I don't give a RIP what they do to me!

[hickman1937]

5. Nitrous Oxide makes me vomit. I don't know why.

A nice valium at the door would be nice though. Dentists terrify me.

[Dangerously Amused]

6. Tell your dentist that, and ask for a Valium.

S/he can probably arrange it.

For awhile it seemed like the nitrous wasn't working as well for me, and my dentist offered a Valium if nitrous got to the point where it wasn't helping anymore. Fortunately we didn't need to go there, but it was comforting even to know that we had a backup plan. Course, I keep telling him that my backup plan is just to come in really, really drunk! He just laughs.

But seriously, tell your dentist about the anxiety, and ask about getting a Valium. You shouldn't have to go through all that stress.

Good luck.

[njdemocrat106]

7. Not afraid as much as I loathe the dentist

I brush twice a day for 2 minutes and Listerine at least once (I occasionally floss :7 ) a day, yet I feel like my teeth are worse AFTER I come out of the office. And don't get me started on the banal chit-chat (How's school? How's work?).

[tibbir]

8. I'm so lucky, all I ever have done at the dentist is a cleaning......

but you'd never know it judging by how bad a white knuckle flight it is.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

9. Not really

I don't LOVE getting crowns, but it hurts less than it used to. I don't mind cleanings, but look forward to them.

[driver8]

12. I love cleanings! But only because I have a crush on my hygenist.

I just had my teeth cleaned last week and then a check up. My dentist told me that I have to have a crown replaced...damn!

[LisaL]

10. Am I afraid to go to the dentist? Only because of the bill.

[ashling]

11. Not afraid, just can't afford to go

when the kids were growing up, our priority was to get dental care for them . . . it meant delaying a few root canals, foregoing a crown or two, and some bridgework.

[driver8]

13. It is so expensive!! I could see where a lot of families might put

off their dental care to take care of their children's. I lucked out with my dental plan so my whole family is able to go. If we had to pay it all out of pocket their would be no way we could afford it. Either that, or our credit cards would get a lot of use!!

[Omphaloskepsis]

15. The shitty part is..

Those who can't afford it (myself included) wait for so long that it is insanely expensive to get fixed. I just spent 1300$ to fix what could have been fixed for 500$ four months ago. And what would have cost 2500$ in three months.

[Omphaloskepsis]

14. Not scared of the pain..

The bill is another story. I went for three fillings a few days ago. Didn't experience any pain. (thanks Nitrous Oxide). And next week I have to go in for four fillings. Not scared. Luckily my aunt and sister are paying the bills. It has been about 1300$ in the last 2 1/2 weeks.