Beauty cure for nervous patients

Treatments are aimed at calming patients facing dental work

Patients at a private dental practice are being offered free foot and hand massages to help relax them while in the dentists' chair.

Grange Dental clinic in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria has employed a full-time beauty therapist to calm clients who fear the dreaded drill.

Free mini-facials, pedicures, manicures and massages are also on offer in the waiting room before surgery.

The clinic says the therapy is proving popular with both men and women.

Practice manager Chloe Booth said: "A lot of our patients really feel they have had dental experiences in childhood that were not very positive.

"We feel if we offer them a distraction then it will help calm and cool them when they are in the dental chair.

"For the really nervous our therapist will even provide hand and foot massage while they are in the chair."