An antiseptic smell, glaring lights, picks, pliers and the loud buzzing of a dental drill are enough to guicken anyone's pulse, even the most stoic among us, on entering a dentist,s office.

Many people recoil at the thought of someone else poking in their mouths, something Dr Watchareewon "Lily" Porncharoen understands only too well.

She is offering a new concept in dental services, meant to make the dreaded visit downright pleasurable, at her recently opened Bangkok Dental Spa Clinic, the first of its kind in Asia.

The 25-million-baht clinic, located just behind the Robinson department store on Sukhumvit Soi 19, provides the amenities of a five-star day spa-an aromatic lounge, cushioned treatment tables, indoor waterfalls and piped-in music.

Other perks include the possibility of having a body massage or foot reflexology before the dental work begins.

Isn't it a bit unsettling to have a massage while having your teeth done?

According to Dr.Lily, a massage releases endorphins, which help lower blood pressure and lead to more relaxed patients. Comfort aside, massage and other amenities can enhance oral health.

"When a person is scared, his blood pressure rises and his body produces more adrenalin. This makes the anaesthetic go through the system more guickly, rendeing it less effective. A scared patient is often tense and nervous. And nervous patients are hard to work with. Quality of service sometimes suffers as a result."

The idea of opening a dental spa originated three years ago when a foreign patient from Hawaii underwent a complicated dental makeover at her Ramkhamhaeng dental clinic. After sitting in the dental chair with his mouth wide open for more than an hour, he got a bit edgy and complained of a strained jaw.

"So I massaged his face, neck and shoulders. It had a calming effect on him," said Dr. Lily.

The concept is not new. In the United States many clinics have been pampering dental patients with all sorts of things-waiting rooms with an upscale resort ambience, massages, facials, manicures, mood music playing softly in the background, a dental chair with a program-mable heated massage, headphones to listen to music, and even video goggles.

"From my direct experience with foreign dental spas, I feel confident that we could better provide such services in Thailand because of a nature of our hospitality."

During the planning stages of the Bangkok Dental Spa, Dr Lily experimented with the concept at her Ramkhamhaeng Clinic. All of the patients found the free foot or body massage and aromatherapy a welcome respite from an otherwise stressful session, she said.

The official opening of the Bangkok Dental Spa is a few months away but already the clinic is treating dozens of patients, most of whom are from abrod, mainly Scandinavia, Australia, England and the United States, who are seeking cosmetic and implant dentistry.

Most patients know of her services via the Internet, through recommendations from tour operators or by word-of-mouth.

Due to the service's uniqeness and high investment costs, Dr Lily said her clinic aimed to capture only high-endThai patients and affluent foreigners.

Charges st the Bangkok Dental Spa are comparatively higher than at traditional clinics in Thailand but still four to six times less than in most overseas patients' home countries. At the same time, there is no waiting period to have work done and the dental staff take good care of the patients with the added touh of Thai hospitably.

Dr Lily plans to open more clinics in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui, with an average investment cost of at least 20 million baht per outlet.