The dental spa has become an established part of the dentistry market. Dental spa experts estimate that up to 5% of dental practices in USA currently offer “dental spa” or spa dentistry services. Strong growth is forecast and numbers are expected to increase with as many as three quarters of US dental practices possibly becoming dental spas. They can boost sales by doing so as dental spas report patients spending about 30% more per visit than in a traditional dentist’s office.
Dental spas, once considered a luxury restricted to California and New York, are now found throughout the US. The dental spa concept is successful because it meets new consumer demands, until now largely ignored by the traditional dental practice. It is also drawing in new customers with a high percentage of spa clients being first time users. The dental spa client profile is somewhat different to the usual dental office. Clients are drawn from the more image-conscious industries such as real-estate and the media. Men can account for up to 50% of patients in many dental spas. Unlike the traditional dental practice which depends on its local catchment area, dental tourists are important clients as consumers are prepared to travel from afar.
The dental spa was created by borrowing techniques and procedures from the day or med spa to reduce the stress or fear of pain commonly associated with the dentist's appointment. However, “dental spa” remains an umbrella terms with many definitions co-existing. As with all spas there is disagreement whether spa should mean different treatments are provided or relaxation and de-stressing therapies are added to the existing service menu. With so many different meanings, it can be no surprise that estimates for dental spas in the US vary so widely.
Some definitions of dental spas include dental practices that add non-dental procedures, such as spa services while other definitions include any dental practice that aims to offer patients a more relaxing experience than the traditional dental practice focused exclusively on dental procedures. Dental spas now include dental practices which: specialise in cosmetic dental care offer alternative dental care create a “spa-like” atmosphere or environment add spa treatments, offering dental care and spa under the one roof.
Most strikingly, a large number of cosmetic dentists have become dental spas. Cosmetic dental care includes procedures provided for the purpose of appearance enhancement rather than general dental health. These practices are somewhat analogous to the medspa business where the lines between beauty and medical procedures are now blurred. Cosmetic dental work can account for 50% of income in some dental spas for the simple reason that their clients are more cosmetically minded and more affluent than the rest of the population.
The leading cosmetic dental procedure is almost always teeth whitening, now ubiquitous in the USA. As one expert put it, “Everyone has to have very white teeth.” Other leading cosmetic procedures are “smile makeovers” that is, reconstructive dental work, such as veneers, crowns and bridges.
The spa services that can be offered in dental spas are as wide ranging as those offered in any other type of spa. They can include, for example:- Aromatherapy- Beauty treatments- Relaxation and massage therapies - Medical treatments - Laser skincare treatments
Click the link below to learn more about the US Dental Spa Market 2007 report.
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