Taking the bite out of opening wide

Let's face it. Few of us enjoy a visit to the dentist.

In fact, many people are pretty vocal about their fear of opening wide, and dentists across the country are collectively saying "we hear you" with attempts to make office visits more comfortable for patients.

In a 2003 American Dental Association survey of 427 dentists nation wide, more than 200 dentists said they offer headphones, neck rests, warm towels, drinks and snacks to patients.

Some dentists are even offering services like massages, facials, manicures and pedicures as part of "spa dentistry."

Locally, dentists offer patients exam rooms with TVs and a personal remote, a selection of music via headphones to drown out the sound of drilling and other amenities.

Patient comfort is really the key to success, said Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, a Jackson dentist who has practiced for 36 years.

"We understand that fear of dentistry is a very real thing," said Lewis. "The mouth is one of the most sensitive parts of the body."

Lewis said patients' fear is really about a lack of trust, so building up that trust and instilling a sense of control in patients is important.

During a remodel of his office Lewis reluctantly chose an open floor plan with the idea that seeing what was happening around them would help calm patients.

"When you hear a kid crying, your imagination kicks in and you wonder what's happening to that kid," said Lewis.

With the open floor plan, said Lewis, a patient can look over and see that the child is crying simply because he's having his teeth brushed.

"It's made things much more comfortable," Lewis said.

Comfortable chairs are also helpful.

"We have more patients fall asleep during a root canal than any other procedure," he said.

Dr. J.P. Arpin, a Cape Girardeau dentist, agreed that trust is the most important part of making patients feel more comfortable.

"Once this trust and confidence is established, generally the patient will feel more comfortable about visiting their dentist and will become an active participant in their overall oral health," said Arpin.

At Jackson Dental, Dr. Rob Etherton said taking time to explain procedures to patients helps them relax.

Etherton's office also offers TVs in the exam rooms and large windows that overlook a wooded area.

Some dental practices are also offering movies viewed through virtual reality goggles, aromatherapy and free milkshakes to help alleviate discomfort after a procedure.

Occasionally, spa treatments and music are not enough. Some dentists also use sedation techniques that include laughing gas, pills or IV anesthesia.

"In the last 20 years, dentists have been focusing more and more on the needs of patients attached to the teeth," said ADA spokeswoman Dr. Kimberly Harms.

www.MSN.com contributed to this report

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128

---

Brush twice, wince less

Local dentists say visits can be made less stressful by proper dental care in between regular dental visits.

Brushing and flossing are important in keeping teeth and gums clean and free of plaque that causes decay and disease. It is important, however, to brush and floss the right way.

Most people don't brush often enough or long enough, said Dr. Jason Fish of the Cross Trails Medical and Dental Clinic of Cape Girardeau.

"On the average most people brush their teeth about 30 seconds, and they usually do it once a day," he said. "They need to brush twice a day for two minutes."

As for flossing, Fish said most dentists would be happy if their patients did it once a day.

"It's a tough habit to get into," Fish said. "Even occasional flossing helps quite a bit."

Fluoride is an important treatment for building strong teeth and preventing cavities in children. It is important, Fish said, that children not be given bottled water to drink because bottled water does not contain fluoride.

"For adults it's less of a concern," he said.

But the biggest culprit in tooth decay, Fish said, is not water, but soda. He said sugar-free soda is as destructive as regular soda.

"Diet soda does not have the sugar problem, but it's still very acidic and damaging to teeth," Fish said. "It's better than regular soda, but water is best."

Soda, he said, should be an occasional treat and not the everyday drink many parents give their children.

Another enemy of a healthy mouth is tobacco. The American Dental Hygienists' Foundation has announced that it will focus its attention this month on the relationship between oral health, tobacco use and heart disease.

"Dental hygienists are the front line of defense against oral disease," said Katie L. Dawson, president of the American Dental Hygienists Association in Chicago. "They have a responsibility to educate their patients about how tobacco use and heart disease are interrelated with oral health."

Not only is smoking destructive to oral health, Fish said, but so is smokeless tobacco. Fish said he prefers to call it by the ugly name of "spit tobacco" because it's so destructive.

"It's very, very high-risk for oral cancer and gum disease," Fish said. "You get gum recession around the area where people pouch it. There's a lot of destruction around the tissues there."

Good dental health depends on thorough cleaning -- brushing and flossing -- avoiding sugar, and a dental checkup twice a year, Fish said. The checkups should include a routine X-ray that screens the entire mouth, Fish said. For people who have not been to the dentist for several years, he recommends a series of full-mouth X-rays.

Fish also advocates good dental education, and beginning dental visits early in childhood.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160