Going to the dentist no longer needs to be the fear-inducing experience it once was. Dentists across the country are finding ways to help over-anxious patients overcome the dread usually associated with a dental visit. More and more dental offices are trading their sterile white walls for a more Zen-like decor. Walk into an office such as this and you just might think you walked into an upscale day spa.

Services and amenities generally offered at a dental spa may include a massaging dental chair, hand massage and paraffin wax treatments, heated and scented blankets, pillows and eye masks. Even aromatherapy may be used as well as headphones with piped-in music of your choice. You may be offered bottled water, flavored coffee, and herbal tea while you watch flat screen televisions.

The purpose of these services is to make the patient feel as though there are anywhere but the dentist office. After all, who can concentrate of the sound of the drill while the relaxing sound of a fountain babbles in the background, or focus on your dental-anxiety while receiving a scalp massage?

While these amenities may ease the fear in adults, what is being done to help the children who have dental phobias? Many practices are also employing kid-friendly tactics to keep the little ones from bolting out the door. From jungle gyms to bright wall colors, many offices are decorating in a way that keeps kids minds off the task at hand.

Flat screen television, piped in music and handheld video games also help relax the younger patients. Youngsters can even transport themselves to another world with the cutting-edge technology of virtual reality goggles. In the case of younger patients, something as simple as allowing parents into the treatment room can serve to act as a distraction.

Many practices are now offering sedation dentistry. It helps to provide an anxiety-free experience for patients. While IV sedation is still used, many patients prefer the non-injection type. Laughing gas, technically known as nitrous oxide, is a patient favorite. In some cases, patients become so relaxed they don't even remember the visit. It's as if they slept through the whole thing. This is why sedation dentistry is sometimes incorrectly referred to as sleep dentistry.

Since sedation addresses many of the fears that keep people from visiting their dentist regularly, they are more likely to continue with recommended routine care. As a result they are less likely to neglect their oral health problems, which could lead to more severe problems down the road. If you've been reluctant in the past to visit the dentist due to long-standing phobias, these new techniques may help you achieve the smile of your dreams.