Luxury Dental Spas Attracting Scared Patients

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Most of us dread the dentist.  Vanessa Santiago was no exception.

"As a child I do remember crying and screaming," said Santiago. "It was not something I enjoyed."

But if you add complimentary champagne, a spa robe and slippers for free. Paraffin wax to make your hands and feet soft and music plus cucumbers for the eyes, opinions may change.

Fort Lauderdale dentist, Dr. April Patty came up with the spa like solution. All the extras are designed to retain business for Dr. Patty because competition is tough.  Dentists across the country have been business decline since the economy dipped two years ago. With cuts in jobs and dental coverage, dentists have been trying to find ways to boost business.

"We want to pamper our clients," said Dr. Patty. "We want to make them feel like they are not at a regular dentist's office."

Dr. Patty pays of all the extra touches out of her own pocket.

"It's such a small expense," she said. "But it means so much to the client. It makes a difference to how they perceive coming to the dentist office."

To create the spa ambiance, there are several small waterfalls and aromatherapy is pumped through the air vents in the office.

All the extra touches seem to be working.

To round out the entire spa experience you can also pay for some of the extras like eyelash extensions or fillers or even Botox.

At the end of her visit Vanessa Santiago said, "My hands are softer, my feet are softer and everything smells better.  I love the dentist!"