Re: Spa Dentistry?

From: letsconnect (letsconnect_at_myway.com)
Date: 12/18/04 

Date: 17 Dec 2004 18:36:36 -0800

What I was really trying to say is that for a lot of people, removing
the "clinical environment" factor puts them at ease. In my own personal
opinion, environmental anchors are one of the biggest factors in dental
fear, and removing them makes things easier for the practitioner.

Tony Bad wrote:
> "letsconnect" <letsconnect@myway.com> wrote in message
> news:1103330372.405578.307750@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> > "Spa dentistry" is really an umbrella term. Some would argue that
"spa
> > dentistry" only encompasses places which offer actual spa
treatments,
> > such as massages or manicures etc. But the term is used much more
> > loosely to refer to dental offices which make an effort to make the
> > dental experience more pleasant.
>
> Your definition is typical of modern dental marketing where people
like to
> pretend they have invented the wheels that have been spinning for
years. These
> days we hear and see terms like "Family" or "cosmetic" dentistry, but
what came
> before? Were there practices that refused to treat families? Wasn't
dentistry
> always concerned with cosmetics? Your interpretation of "spa
dentistry" is just
> a new word for something that has been ongoing for years. Interesting
you chose
> a reference from DE, which in my mind one of the biggest purveyors of
this brand
> of BS.
>
> I think serving milkshakes in one's office is silly, but I have no
doubt some
> people like it.
>
> I am a bit disturbed, however, by this statement...
>
> "If you offer nitrous oxide in your practice, look at those clinical
members who
> never forget to offer it to your patients. They will most likely be
your most
> capable spa facilitators."...
>
> I think nitrous should be used when clinically necessary, not peddled
as a
> marketing enhancer or mood setter by some one characterized as a
"facilitator".
>
> Like I said before, I think all this crap lends a circus atmosphere
to our
> profession. I wouldn't like it as a patient and quite frankly, I am
embarrassed
> by it as a dentist.
>
> T