A visit to the dentist can be a pleasant experience. A service package developed for dental surgeries by Prodetec Oy reduces patient tension and fear of the dentist.

The Prodent service package has been designed as a medicine-free and alternative method to promote successful and pleasant dental treatment. The product was launched in January 2005 after some two years of product development and practical testing.

Prodent consists of virtual glasses, a media server unit and media content. During surgery patients can choose what they watch or listen to, such as natural history documentaries, comedy series or music videos, as they please.

"Research shows that the relaxation methods can bring a clear reduction in subjective fear and in the feeling of pain. Furthermore, it has been shown that the method lowers blood pressure and the heart beat. Patients have also felt that time passes more quickly during treatment," says R&D director Ismo Karttunen.

International demand

Prodetec's audio-visual relaxation systems are used widely not only in Finland's biggest urban areas but also in the smallest localities.

"Numerous contacts have come from abroad. The biggest markets are in countries where the private sector holds a strong position in healthcare services and customers are ready to pay for the services," says Karttunen.

"We believe that there will be a lot of demand for these wellbeing-technology products on international markets. As far as we know, there are no equivalent service packages on offer elsewhere around the world."

>> www.prodetec.com

Prodent is a system designed for dental surgeries, the aim being to make a visit to the surgery a pleasant experience for the patient.