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USC School Of Dentistry Teaches Hypnosis As An Alternative To
Novocain
What if it were possible to
undergo a root canal filling or tooth extraction without feeling the
pinch of a needle or the after affects of general anesthesia? Hypnosis
could uncover a new world for patients seeking dental care.
Today, the USC School of
Dentistry is the only dental school in the United States that offers
formal training for dental professionals in the use of hypnosis. Peter
Stone, associate professor of clinical dentistry, teaches Modern
Hypnosis for the 21st Century Dentist. He has taught the techniques
and applications of hypnosis since 1981 for the Southern California
Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
Hypnosis in dentistry is
nothing new; it was first reported in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.
The demise of its practice occurred with Horace Wells who initiated
the use of nitrous oxide and ether during procedures. In the years
that followed, chemicals and general anesthesia became common practice
and hypnosis became a sleepy alternative to sedation.
The soothing voice of your
dentist could transport you into a state of mind that allows the
dental professional to complete a procedure; whether it is a simple
cleaning or a complex procedure that involves oral surgery, while you
slip into a state of relaxation. "Now as I count from one to ten, I
can feel myself sinking more and more deeply into the quiet, relaxed,
enjoyable feeling. More relaxed with each count."
Wendy J.N. Lee listens to the
words uttered by associate professor Peter Stone as her body slips
into a more- comfortable position during a recent visit to the USC
School of Dentistry. Lee, a USC cinema graduate student, filmed
Stone's hypnosis techniques for "Say Aah," a documentary about her
fear of dentistry.
According to Stone," The time
spent learning hypnosis not only makes a visit to the dentist more
pleasant for the patient, but it also enhances a practitioner's
productivity, providing a stress-free environment for all," he says.
"Working with nervous patients makes it difficult to carry out our
job," Stone says. "Dentists by nature, we don't like to hurt
people-we're trained to bring them relief from pain. When a patient is
relaxed and they are calm, the procedure goes more smoothly and more
quickly." Therefore, it seems, hypnosis could be a win-win for both
patient and dentist. It's a less-expensive alternative to general or
conscious sedation-which can cost hundreds of dollars. "In the average
patient, we can teach them to relax and control their fears 90 percent
of the time-in a small group of patients hypnosis allows them to
control pain, bleeding or salivation during a procedure or speed up
recovery time," Stone says.
Stone shares his experience
with one patient during oral surgery: "I remember telling my
assistant, 'If only John would stop bleeding, I could finish this
procedure quicker and remove the root tip causing his pain.' Instantly
my patient stopped bleeding." Hypnosis not only allows patients to
control their fears, it helps them control body functions. The
technique is also used to control pain, gagging, bruxism (teeth
grinding and clenching) or breathing problems. Additionally, hypnosis
can enhance memory of a pleasant visit to the dentist.
Each year, dentists from across
the country and Canada travel to Los Angeles for the two-day hypnosis
course taught by Stone at the USC School of Dentistry. The workshop
provides dentists with the tools and skills they need to use hypnosis
comfortably in their dental practice. By Monday morning, these
dentists are equipped with the knowledge they need to put their
patients at ease. Hala Al-Tarifi, a South Pasadena dentist, shares her
experience: "I started implementing hypnosis in my office, and one of
my patients slept through a crown prep."
Ten, nine, eight, I can feel
the energy flowing back through me. Seven, six, five, more and more
alert with every count. Four, three, two, one, wide-awake and full of
energy now and feeling wonderful.
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