A trip to the dentist can be a dreadful experience for some people no matter how old or brave you are. Just the thought of sitting in a dental chair raises their anxiety level. Tooth extraction is probably the most dreaded dental procedure. There are some who prefer to endure the pain of a toothache rather than visiting a dentist. This is because patients often assume that every dental procedure will result in pain. Fortunately, there are several ways that both you and your dentist can put into practice to overcome your dental apprehension.

According to a famous dental company in United States of America, the growing popularity of spa treatments in hospitals, health clubs and resorts/hotels fueled the popularity of the spa/medical combination in the early 2000s. Between 1997 and 2002, the niche grew 143 percent. The spa concept first worked itself into dentistry about a decade ago. That’s when innovative dentists seeking a competitive edge and a way to entice hesitant patients to agree to necessary dental treatment began incorporating the techniques and procedures from day and medical spas.

Today, it is no longer impossible to enjoy an entirely new dental experience. The latest innovations in dentistry gave birth to a pain-free alternative to dental visits. This is referred to as the Spa Dentistry. Dentists across the country have created relaxing and welcoming environment for their patients by adopting the pampering services and amenities similar to day spas.These emerging dental practices help to address the fear and anxiety of patients often associated with dental visits.

Typical “spa-like” services and amenities offered at dental spas include:

• Aromatherapy

• Massaging Dental Chair

• Relaxation Therapy

• Massage Therapy

• Reflexology

• Paraffin wax Hand Treatments

• Complimentary Beverages and Snacks

• Diversional Activities Like Watching TV, Movies, etc.

• Meditation and Deep Breathing Exercises

• Soothing Music Therapy

• Scented Neck pillows, Warm Blankets, Heated Hand Mitts, etc.

Benefits of Dental Spa

Stress reduction techniques are recommended particularly in patients with heart problems and anxiety disorders.  Apart from the relaxing benefits  of dental spa, this practice will also attract reluctant patients to go for  dental treatment. The spa-like amenities will contribute to patient safety by reducing their stress level.  According to dental experts, relaxed patients pose less risk to  injury compared to anxious and restless patients. Spa dentistry also offers a gentler, more pleasurable and drug-free alternative to sedation dentistry which relies on the use of tranquilizers, anti-anxiety medications and strong anesthesia that might pose more health risks to your body.

The relaxing and comforting atmosphere created by dental spa clinics will sooth tensed muscles and this will result  to a less traumatic dental visit experience. The aim spa dentistry is to optimally provide dental health among individuals and enhance oral needs without the fear of pain being inflicted.

In spa dentistry, there will be less occurrence of panic and anxiety attacks related to contemplated dental procedure. It is always best to visit a dental specialist to address any existing problems related to oral health.

If you’ve always dreaded going to the dentist, spa dentistry might be just what you need. What a great way to get your dental treatment completed while taking some time out for yourself and experience the luxury of spa dentistry.

]]> http://apricotmousse.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/spa-dentistry-your-dentists-solution-to-your-dreaded-visit/feed/ 1 apricotmousse email-zen Picture1 ronds dans l'eau http://apricotmousse.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/stress-stressor-stress-management/ http://apricotmousse.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/stress-stressor-stress-management/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:23:23 +0000 apricotmousse http://apricotmousse.wordpress.com/?p=63 ]]> Feeling like you are confronted with pressures at work? Inability to sleep worrying about tomorrow’s examination? Lack of time for the family because your schedule is just too busy? Do you feel that your life is just too complicated? You are not alone. These are just some of the  manifestations that you are in a state of stress. Everyone experiences stress almost everyday—adults, teenagers and even kids. Stress is unavoidable but there are several ways to manage this phenomenon.

What is Stress?

Stress is a man’s response to unpleasant events. It is a feeling created by our body to react to a particular situation. Not all stress is considered bad especially in emergency situations where our mind tells our body to respond quickly to save us from any harm. It makes us  feel more human and life will be boring without it. Any situation or event that triggers a stress response is called stressor.

Divorce, diagnosis of an illness, pregnancy, marriage and changes in financial status are all considered stressors. These situations may bring unpleasant changes to a man’s life. We don’t like our lives to become miserable  due to stress.  This is where the concept of stress management comes in.

How to Conquer Stress?

There is no way to avoid stress but there are several things you can do to manage it. These are among the simplest and most effective way to handle stressful situations:

• Help yourself to feel better
  If you want to lower your stress level in a matter of minutes, you have to help yourself to feel better. Yes, this is possible. Practice deep breathing exercises and do this more often. This technique will relax your muscles and will ease your tension. Also, listening to your favorite music will help you relax your mind as well as your body. You can also try to write in your own journal to help you to release your emotions.
• Take care of yourself
  When we’re stressed, we often end up neglecting our body’s needs which can lead to even more stress. That is why it is so important to take care of our body to keep stress at its lowest level. This means eating healthy foods, engaging in exercises, getting enough quality sleep and maintaining a daily healthy habit.
• Simplify your life
  As the famous saying goes, “live one day at a time”. This holds true to all of us. The reason why we are bombarded with a lot of things is that we make our lives too complicated. It is possible to accomplish any given tasks one step at a time. Proper time management and planning is the key to a more organized and meaningful life .
• Maintain the right attitude
  High dose of optimism will help you maintain a good perspective in life. It’s like looking at a glass as half empty or half full. View stress a challenge rather than as a reason stop you from doing what you think is good for you.
• Live life to the fullest
  We will only live once so make sure to enjoy every single day of your life. Smile more often. Practice at least one act of kindness each day. Love unconditionally. Be a friend. Let’s see how far you will go.

I hope these simple ways to combat stress helped you. I wish you a stress-free day. Enjoy life!

I believe that Macau tourism is at its peak and there’s a lot more to watch out for. Your visit to this place will not be complete without going to these popular destinations. So fasten your seatbelt and join me to the Top 5 Tourist Destinations in MACAU:

1. Senado Square
Located at the heart of Macau, you surely will never get lost in this popular spot. Senado Square or Largo de Senado is a cobble-stoned street teeming with tourists and locals. Portuguese-inspired building were preserved which added to the old-world charm of the place. Senado Square is surrounded by pastel-colored neo-classical buildings that created a consistent and harmonious Mediterranean atmosphere.

Senado Square is the place where you can find anything and everything under the sun. This famous tourist destination is great for shopping, eating, and just watching the people go by. I was really amazed with the Portugese Pavement which reminded me of a particular street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

2. Ruins of Saint Paul
This refers to the facade of a church destroyed by fire in the year 1600′s. The ruins is one of Macau’s most famous landmarks.

The best way to enjoy this place is to take lots of pictures. There are also several food stalls along the street leading to the ruins. Do not forget to try their famous delicacy—Portugese egg tart.

3. Macau Fisherman’s Wharf
This is the first theme park in Macau and this is the place that you should never miss in your stay in this island. What’s more exciting about this place is that the entrance is FREE.

There are several restaurants, shops and casinos in this park. It would be best to bring along your children because they will truly enjoy the experience.

4. The Venetian Macau
The Venetian Macau is a tourist attraction on its own. With its Venetian-inspired structure and Renaissance-inspired paintings, one will be left in awe with the beauty of this place. This is a luxury hotel and casino resort similar to the The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, USA.

One of the highlights of this luxurious hotel-resort is the Gondola Ride. So be sure not to miss this experience because it’s like you are in the city of Venice, Italy. The indoor artificial sky is simply breath-taking.

5. Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center
Visit the Macau Tower with family and friends and discover new and exciting activities for everyone. This place is not for people with fear of heights. Also known as Macau Sky Tower, this tourist destination offers a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the whole city.

This is one of the tallest towers in the world. If you are brave enough, never miss the chance to try bungee jumping, Skywalk X and the skyjump.

I’d love to hear from you. What’s your travel experience?

Traveling enriches one’s soul. I want to share my experience with my travel buddy. Her name is Maricris. We love to go to places we’ve never been to and explore all the possibilities. We went to Macau last December and stayed there for 3 days.

Macau is a charming destination, with a unique blend of Portugese and Chinese cultures. Famed for its fascinating historical sites, delightful array of casinos and restaurants, I certainly would not miss any opportunity to enjoy my stay in this place.

I had a wonderful experience walking down the streets of Macau. We can feel the breeze of the Christmas season as we walk. We went to the famous tourist destinations such as Senado Square, Ruins of St. Paul, Macau Fisherman’s Wharf and The Venetian Macau to name a few.

I love the simplicity of life in Macau. I enjoyed the foods in the street especially the Portugese egg tart. One word to describe this delicacy, HEAVENLY! I look forward to go back to this place again.

We went to Hongkong  via Cotai Strip. We stayed there for 2 days. We both enjoyed our favorite bonding activity which is shopping. The Disneyland experience was great! I can say that I didn’t like much the busy atmosphere in Hongkong compared to the relaxing atmosphere in Macau.

I wish have more time traveling. And more money of course. =)