• by Amy Corr , Staff Writer @MediaPostOTL, October 13, 2008

What's more painful: a root canal or sitting through an episode of "Extreme Makeover"?

InChairTV is launching a low-maintenance ad network in more than 400 dentist offices that offers patients some much-needed escapism.

Patients sport high-tech sunglasses, similar to those donned by LeVar Burton when he portrayed Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and watch programs between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on their procedure.

Thus far, InChairTV partnered with ABC/Disney to broadcast TV shows like "Home Improvement," "Ugly Betty," "Extreme Makeover," "Alias," "Lost" and "Empty Nest."

Movies offered for those needing to endure the dentist's chair for longer periods include "Pirates of the Caribbean," "10 Things I Hate About You," "Bruce Almighty" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Commercials are shown during program breaks, much like TV ads, and shown prior to a movie's start time.

Advertising slots are being offered to oral health and other marketers at various CPM rates. In-house educational videos are also shown on additional dental procedures available, like tooth whitening and veneers.

The price of a headset, portable DVD player and a yearlong media subscription is $499. Additional DVD content is available for $10 per quarter per disk. DVDs are returned every three months in a prepaid envelope, much like Netflix.

DVDs are available in three age-appropriate categories: Child, Teen and Standard.