14 | HealthLinksSC.com CHANGING LIVES ONE (CALM) SMILE AT A TIME HOW A SPA APPROACH HELPS EASE DENTAL ANXIETY Comfort isn’t a word that usually comes to mind when thinking about a visit to the dentist. A study published by the National Institutes of Health found that dental anxiety affects an estimated 36% of people in the United States, with 12% of those suffering from extreme dental fear. For many, dental anxiety means delayed or missed appointments. And about 3% of people experiencing severe anxiety may stop going to the dentist altogether. “Going to the dentist completely stresses me out. My stomach is in knots, my jaw clenched and I’m so scared of the work that needs to be done,” said (sometimes) dental patient Jennifer Gross. But what if your dental office featured a spa atmosphere? At Sculpt Dental Spa in downtown Charleston, Client Experience Coordinator Nick Aime’s role is to ensure every patient’s experience is one of ultimate comfort. “I’ll never forget the first patient I met with dental anxiety. She had to be dragged through the front door by her boyfriend,” said Aime. “We want to do everything we can to cater to our patients and ensure they have an enjoyable experience.” Aime presents patients with a menu of comfort items for their appointment, including a scented neck pillow, champagne, lip balm and moisturizing paraffin hand treatment. Patients can enjoy a chair massage to calm them before their appointment and watch a Netflix movie under a cozy blanket during treatment. Opened in 2022 by Dr. Suzie Dubrinski, Sculpt Dental Spa specializes in cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers with cutting-edge, modern dentistry. Patients can even get Botox while in the office. “I wanted to create a space where clients would feel pampered like a VIP, somewhere they would look forward to coming and enjoy spending time,” said Dr. Dubrinski. By Amy Connor
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