Dentistry (Hypnodontics)

The use of hypnosis in surgery can produce many benefits, for example, reduced post-operative nausea and discomfort and a reduction of infections. Many studies have also reported that using hypnosis in surgical operations can lead to an improvement in healing, quicker recovery and marked improvement in overall experience leading to greater patient satisfaction.

The problems caused to dentists by the fears of patients include

1. Patients avoiding treatment, thus needing far more radical treatment when they do eventually attend than would otherwise be the case.

2. Patients reacting in fear during treatment, requiring sedation which would otherwise not be necessary and causing additional stress to the dentist and assisting staff.

3. Patients with needle phobias, who have problems accepting injections.

4. Patients on whom the usual doses of anaesthetic appear to have little effect.

5. Post-procedural pain, leading to avoidance of future treatment.

6. Lack of compliance with dental care measures such as cleaning and regular check-ups.

Direct benefits to dentists include:

1. Reduce/eliminate anxiety/phobia of attending the dentist for treatment.

2. Increase compliance with dental procedures (sitting still in chair, holding mouth open etc) by reducing/eliminating patient discomfort and/or anxieties.

3. Reduce/eliminate need for chemical anaesthetic by reducing/ eliminating experience of pain.

4. Reduce/eliminate pain and discomfort and reduce bleeding during dental procedures.

5. Reduce/ eliminate pain and discomfort and reduce bleeding after dental procedures.

6. Increase overall patient satisfaction with dental services.

7. Increase patient compliance with recommended dental care practice such as regular attendance for cleaning, check-ups etc.

8. Increase well-being of dental personnel through reduced stress from patients' anxieties.

Thankz,