There are approaches to helping patients experience a calm and relaxed dental procedure that doesn’t often get discussed. Those in the dental industry are always looking for new ways they might be able to help patients receive dental care free from anxiety and stress. This has led to ongoing studies on using hypnosis to receive treatment from your dentist. Using this technique, it’s possible to help patients conquer their dental phobias, ease anxiety, and more.
How Dental Patients Can Benefit From Receiving Hypnosis
Hypnotherapy was initially discovered in the 1800s and was originally known as “Mesmerism” after its inventor. This approach to care helps to render the patient into a hypnogogic state, or half-sleep. They are still capable of perceiving their surroundings. They can also communicate with the provider. The hypnotic trance is a method that helps to provide some relief from pain while also addressing concerns with anxiety and stress. Some patients aren’t able to be hypnotized, and others are dubious about the effectiveness of this treatment. As a result, it’s not an effective approach for all patients.
Hypnosis shows its strengths when more traditional approaches are either ineffective or inappropriate for the patient in question. This may be due to a sensitivity to sedatives or anesthetics or severe dental anxiety. While under hypnosis, the patient can share their concerns with the dentist. They will also continue to be able to comply with requests made of them as part of their treatment. Those with dental anxiety will be able to community clearly and easily with the dentist without becoming nervous or afraid. It’s also an effective approach for those who have sensitive gag reflexes.
Is Hypnosis Effective For Dental Treatment?
Hypnosis is not a form of treatment that’s appropriate for every patient. Children with active imaginations and dental anxiety are among those for whom it is particularly effective. Individuals with this mindset tend to be more susceptible to hypnosis and, therefore, can more easily slide into this state. For those struggling to enter a hypnogogic state, nitrous oxide may help. This sedative gas helps to soothe the mind and ease worry, making the individual more susceptible to hypnotizing. This sedative produces a state similar to hypnosis, known as conscious sedation. It is easy to administer, the dosages are simple to control, and the recovery from sedation is quite rapid.
If you’re interested in knowing if hypnosis may be effective for you, reach out to your dentist. They’re dedicated to helping their patients have pleasant and successful office visits. Dental clinics worldwide are starting to add new options to ensure they can produce the best results possible for their patients. Start by calling for a consultation with your dental team. They’ll bring you in, assess your oral health needs, and discuss your concerns with traditional approaches. Together you’ll find a treatment plan that can produce the results you want.