Fillings and Filler

Created on 11th October 2010

Just imagine a dentist’s clinic with aromatherapy rooms, beauty treatments and even Botox. Welcome to the dental spa phenomenon, where a filling is something to look forward to!

A trip to the dentist has never been something to be relished. With stark interiors, scary implements, chemical smells and the distant whirr of drills, going to have a sixmonthly check-up is definitely on the list of chores rather than treats.

However, all that may be about to change. Imagine a different world in which a visit to the dentist is a relaxing, pampering treat. Would you get regular check-ups then? Or fork out thousands for that A-list smile?

Research shows that one of the main reasons people avoid visiting the dentist is dental anxiety. However, this anxiety often creates more dental problems as people shy away from visiting the dentist on a regular basis. An estimated nine to 15 per cent of people in the UK avoid essential dental care because of fear or anxiety. As such, a wily bunch of dentists have hit upon the idea that a relaxing, spa-like experience may coax more people into the dentist’s chair.

This fresh-from-Hollywood trend, now hitting the UK, is known as the dental health spa. A favourite with A-listers such as the Beckhams, Justin Timberlake and Johnny Depp, these luxury dental spas offer speedy porcelain veneers, teeth whitening and dental check-ups with hip décor and pampering facilities all part of the package.

A growing number of UK dentists are reaching the conclusion that if they want us to visit, they are going to have to follow the US trend and make visiting the dentist a more pleasant experience. As such, British dentists are ditching the white coats and whining drills. Instead, they are calling in the interior designers, hiring massage therapists, manicurists and facialists, turning on the whale music, and spending a fortune on hi-tech equipment. These new dental spas are about to revolutionise the way we approach oral care.

Aqua Dental Spa is one of the first such spas to land in the UK. Established by Dr Anoop Maini, it aims to offer a tranquil dental experience in a relaxing environment. While offering affordable dental care, including the latest smile makeover treatments, the practice also provides a range of facial rejuvenation procedures, such as Botox and dermal fillers. Plus, you’ll even be treated to complimentary spa treatments while you wait to see your dentist. Gone are the stress and anxiety of an imminent inspection, as you are put at ease with aromatherapy, scented neck cushions, soothing eye gel masks and massages delivered by trained therapists.

“I had always dreaded going to the dentist and had been avoiding it for years,” admits patient Jenny Soames, 42. “When I heard about Aqua Dental Spa, I thought I should book in and try it out. Now I’m converted: the whole experience completely put me at ease. I’m now planning to go back for some teeth whitening and Botox treatments.”

Bath Spa Dentistry takes a similar approach, providing high quality dentistry and cosmetic techniques in comfortable and relaxed surroundings. The practice creates a calm environment and even provides each patient with their own selection of CDs and DVDs to put them at ease. For the nonsqueamish, you can opt to see the progress of your treatment via an oral camera, which allows you to see your procedure being carried out.

Visits typically start with free tea, coffee, juices and freshly baked treats in a luxurious, scented lounge. There are no nurses in scrubs. Instead cheerful ‘dental concierges’ lead you to a serene spa treatment room where you can watch DVDs on flat-screen TVs and enjoy some pampering so that you’ll hardly notice the dentist prodding away at your gums. Indeed, a more holistic approach to dentistry has been proven to cut down on unnecessary amounts of stress: a soothing massage releases endorphins to relax you and lower your blood pressure, thus reducing the pain of the process.

The idea that medicine and self-indulgence can mix is not new. Medical spas – in which doctors work alongside alternative therapists and beauticians to boost well-being – are now the fastest growing sector of the spa industry. So it makes perfect sense that dentists would be keen to cash in on the trend, with some surgeries reporting profits doubling or quadrupling since the shift. With such a surge in profits to be made, the trend seems set to continue steady growth, with more and more practices springing up in Britain each month.

A mouth makeover in minimum time with maximum relaxation? If it’s good enough for Mrs Beckham, it’s good enough for us.

The best of the rest…

dental-Spa Teeth & Therapy (www.dental-spa. co.uk; 020 7631 3199) in central London offers the usual dental services and teeth whitening, plus spa treatments including facials, manicures, eyelash tinting and waxing.

Aromaden Dental Spa (www.aromaden.co.uk; 020 8977 7123) in Middlesex offers smile makeovers with the added possibility to book in for rejuvenating wrinkle correction and dermal filler treatments.

Clarendon Dental Spa (www.clarendondentalspa. co.uk; 0113 245 9004) in Leeds has a treatment list including dental treatments and designer smiles, coupled with luxurious spa treatments and facial rejuvenation with Botox and fillers.

As well as dental treatments, the Putney Dental Spa (www.dentalspaputney. co.uk; 020 8785 7105) offers a range of pampering procedures including Botox, facials, massages, aromatherapy, Reiki and Indian head massage.

The Dental Spa (www. thedentalspa.co.uk; 01743 343433) in Shrewsbury blends cosmetic dentistry with specialist skin treatments and laser hair removal for an all-over makeover.