Dental Hypnotherapy – more relevant than ever, than ever, than ever, than ever

I’ve been practicing for 137 years, but increasingly, the times, the economy, the state of the world seems to be creating a heightened sense of anxiety in many patients……thought I’d open this up to folks that work with hypnotherapy, one of my personal favorite pain control modalities.  Found an article written by Joyce Hansen (a certified hypnotist and hypnosis instructor trained in hypno-analgesia, hypnoanesthesia and medical hypnotism.  She has appeared on the television news program 20/20 demonstrating hypno-anestheia as part of an actual dental procedure – joyce.hansen@gmail.com – would like to have folks comment on this blog entry and identify more and more of the members of our profession who utilize this technique. Check out the YouTube video on Ashley Goodman, one of the best known of our colleagues…….he’s the true dentalmentalist……….
From Joyce Hansen:
Professional dental training incorporates the history of Hypnodontics, an analgesia free 

Hypnosis

Image by zoomar via Flickr

method of treating dental pain, which was promoted by Dr. Aaron Moss and accepted by the American Dental Association over fifty years ago. There are dentists, primarily those associated with dental centers, who continue to offer hypnodontic treatment.  However,the general dental practitioner will tell you that it is not it cost-effective for them to prepare patients with hypnodontics when they have access to an array of new pain reducing options. 
Also,the marketing of dentistry has changed its focus.  Today, the emphasis is on having a beautiful smile inferring whiter and straighter teeth.  Rather than fearing the loss of all your teeth, implants are now available as needed.  New methods are friendlier, less painful and less intrusive.  For patients with uncontrollable dental fears, anxieties or phobias there are referrals for psychological counseling or anti-anxiety medications.  For more difficult patients 
medical sedation is recommended. Colleagues and clients who have shared their experiences of wanting to use self hypnosis without an analgesic or anesthetic have encountered a mixed 
reception.  Reports have included dentists in a state of disbelief or frightened by 
the experience.  Some dentists have suggested the patient just has a high tolerance for pain, while others infer the patient is substance abusing which alters pain sensation.  Other dentists have been impressed with the results and found working with such patients more comfortable and less physically exhausting.  
However, the dental profession as a whole would rather rely on dental protocols within their control that are consistent, predictable, and reliable.  For the hypnosis practitioner, this raises the question as to whether there is a market for your services to expand into the area of dental hypnosis.  The answer is yes.  But, just like the dental profession that has updated itself, so the hypnosis practitioner who wants to offer dental hypnosis needs to update with 
new knowledge and new marketing strategies

Enhanced by Zemanta

RESOURCES