Ethan LaForte of Hadley leans back in his padded chair, the picture of serenity. His eyes are closed and cooling cucumber eye patches cover his eyelids. Contemporary "Top 40" music is playing softly. The scent of fresh flowers wafts through the room as the sun beams down on his face.

Although it may look as if LaForte is in the middle of a treatment at a health spa, he is actually waiting for his dentist, Dr. Marjan Khodadoust of Amherst. She will begin an on-lay, a restorative procedure that is done when more than 75 percent of a tooth has to be fixed.

But LaForte is serene.

"It's so relaxing," says LaForte, who has been going to Khodadoust for two years. "It's almost like taking a nap."

If he wanted to, he could have also taken advantage of a paraffin treatment to soften up his hands while waiting. Or, if he was feeling tense, one of the dental assistants, Robin Bathie, Amy Halloran or Laura Johnson, would have been happy to give his shoulders and jaw a massage. All at no extra charge.

Enticing dental phobics
Khodadoust is one of a number of dentists across the country who are borrowing methods used in spas to help their patients relax and entice dental phobics into the office. The American Dental Association estimates that 12 percent of the population is afraid of going to the dentist, although other studies claim that figure is as high as 50 percent.

Some dental practices in New York, Texas and Los Angeles have even begun offering reflexology, aromatherapy and facials  among other services to lure patients.

Though Khodadoust has not gone to those extremes, as overpowering fragrance of lilies mixed with orchids, which grow in pots places all around the office, greets patients the minute they open the door to her Triangle Street practice. Sunlight streams through the waiting room. Parents sin on a leather couch adorned with throw pillows that looks like it belongs in someone's living room, rather than a waiting room, while their children play with a variety of toys scattered around the floor. On top of the receptionist desk there is a small rock water garden adding to the tranquil mood.

A variety of acrylic, oil and water-color paintings, done by Khodadoust's mother, cover the walls. Behind the receptionist's desk is a wall of shelves filled with nearly 100 knicknacks from all corners of the globe, gift from family, friends and patients.

Everything in the office, which was remodeled three years ago, is geared toward helping patients relax, says Khodadoust, who has been practicing since 1993.

Dental Assistant Robin Bathie says that this type of atmosphere sometimes makes patients temporarily forget where they are.

Ethan LaForte agreed. "It feels more like a salon or a spa," he said.

Indelible impressions
"There were a lot of things I didn't like about the dentist when I was younger, so I changed them around once I got my own practice," said Khodadoust. " I tried to design my office so it doesn't look like one, and I think it turned out pretty well."

Khodadoust, 38, admits she herself was once "petrified" of the dentist due to some bad experiences.

"When I was 6 years old, the dentist had to drill my tooth, and he didn't use any Novocain," Khodadoust said, "I hated the sound of the drill, and I hated that antiseptic smell that you can get at the dentist's office. It made me sick to think about it."

As the result, she said, she wanted to make the trip to the dentist as comfortable as possible, not only for the adults she treats, but for the children as well.

Motherly approach
The first step that Khodadoust takes when dealing with children is to make their initial couple of visits as upbeat and short as possible. She feels that if those visits go well, fear will dissolve.

"All of the people that work here are mothers, and I think because of that, we might be a little bit more caring and nurturing than the typical dental office," Khodadoust said. "I think the kids can sense that when they come in."

One of Khodadoust's patients, Susan Burkey of Belchertown, said that all the workers at the office have been extremely skillful in making her two daughters feel relaxed. She said that when handling Kyla, who is 8, and Lindsey, 6, the staff has engaged in casual conversation, made strong eye contact, and explained what is about to take place.

"They have a great relationship with the kids," Burkey said. "They tell them enough to prepared them for what's going on, but not so much where they scare the kids."

Adults need to know, too
Khodadoust is also a proponent of explaining what she is about to do to her patients, whether it is a 5-year-old or an 85-year-old.

"Going into somebody's mouth is an intrusive act," she said, "especially when the patient doesn't really know what's happening. Informed patients who know what's coming every step of the way feel they have more control, and that usually males them a lot more comfortable."

Stephanie Sonn, a Northampton resident, used to have what she calls a "morbid fear of the dentist." It had gotten so bad that she had not visited a dentist for a regular checkup in several years.

Two years ago, her husband suggested that she at least try his dentist - Dr. Khodadoust. While Sonn was hesitant, she eventually went.

She is glad she did.

"I've been going there for two years now, and that is because they have a great bedside manner and the entire staff is very friendly," Sonn said. "They treat you like a guest in their home, not as just another patient."

Khodadoust says she is happy to have helped somebody else overcome an obstacle she understands firsthand.

"I've overcome my fear of the dentist, and with my practice I want to make sure others don't have that same fear," she said.