Wikipedia describes a Dental Spa or Spa Dentistry as “dental practices that offer many services not normally associated with dental care: facials, microdermabrasion, Botox and Restylane treatment, and many other pampering, therapeutic and rejuvenating offerings.”
In terms of Marketing opportunities for Dental Spas, there are two main areas of clientele focus.
A dental spa is an ideal way to market dental service offerings to anxious and nervous patients. For many patients, a conventional dental practice can often be seen as very stark, clinical and reminiscent of a hospital, with a familiar and very distinct smell. The word Dentist can put the fear of dread into nervous patients. A dental spa, on the other hand, is at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of aesthetics and comfort. Many dental spas have aromatherapy candles or reed diffusers in the reception area and waiting rooms to create a feeling of calm, relaxation and to rid the space of that ‘oh so familiar’ dental smell. Dental treatment posters have been replaced by beautiful artwork visuals and reception areas, corridors and consultation rooms feature interior designs that would not look out of place in a Homes and Gardens magazine. Comfy sofas, cushions, ornaments, and VDU screens with images of flying fish or living flames are all carefully positioned to create a relaxing customer experience. Nervous patients are more likely to associate a ‘Dental Spa’ as a pleasant experience instead of being one to dread with a trip to the ‘conventional dentist.’
If we look back to twenty years ago, customers visited the dentist for checkups, metal fillings, and a quick scale and polish. Now let’s look at where we are in 2018. There are so many innovative and lucrative treatments available for a Dental Spa to offer and they are not limited to young or old customers. Patients in their 60s are considering lip filler treatments to give them the smile they wish they could have achieved decades ago. Favourable finance options mean that many of these treatments are now also much more affordable to customers.
With life expectation at an all-time high, in 2014 to 2016, life expectancy at birth in the UK was 79.2 years for males and 82.9 years for females, patients are embracing the opportunity to take care of themselves and improve the way that they look. With the rise in cameras and photography through the birth of social media, people are much more conscious of how they look and often have an idea of how they would like to look. A dental spa can offer Botox treatment to target fine lines and relax wrinkles and dermal fillers to plump up sagging cheeks and thinning lips.
There is also a rising number of dental spas offering facial and body treatments. 3D-lipo is probably one of the most advanced machines of its type and offers a powerful new dimension in nonsurgical fat removal, treatment of cellulite and skin tightening for both face and body. Cutting edge innovative technology such as 3D Skinmed is a popular option for dental spas and offers treatments such as a ‘lunchtime facelift’ with no downtime and minimal bruising, using the latest technology to lift, tighten and Hydrate skin through radio frequency.
Many dental spas also sell a range of skin products so patients can continue with skin health and maintenance in between top-up treatment sessions.
Now patients can tie in a routine dental examination with a quarterly botox injection to keep those pesky wrinkles in check. All carried out in a beautiful spa-like environment.
If you are considering turning your dental surgery into a dental spa, or would just like to refresh your current interiors, please call us on 01462 732 991 and we can discuss what we feel would work for your type of environment.
February 2018
