“I get so anxious when I go to the dentist. It’s truly like pulling teeth to get me there!”

“My teeth are so bad…and yet I can’t gather up the courage to call the dentist for an appointment.”

“Smiling lets people see my rotten teeth. I am scared to death to go to the dentist.”

WHAT IS DENTAL ANXIETY?

Dental anxiety is a disabling condition

that can result in:

• stress and tension

• depression

• fear and loathing

• low self esteem

• avoidance of attending to dental needs.

CAN THE PERCEPTION OF DENTAL ANXIETY BE CHANGED?

Since the times of “Painless Parker” of the 1920’s, dental anxiety has been a concern for many. However, when using self-hypnosis with his patients in the early 1950’s, Aaron Moss, D.D.S. coined the phrase “hypnodontics” (relaxed dentistry). He found that changes in belief structures, guided imagery and visualization proved to be powerful tools for patients with inappropriate dental anxiety (Kroeger, 1977). Levels of perceived pain can be changed by and put under the control of the patient. Self-hypnosis has proven over the years to be a very effective therapy for this symptom.

HOW DOES SELF HYPNOSIS WORK?

You are truly in control of your body with this process. By lowering levels of tension, fear and anxiety, these perceptions can be significantly reduced. The client/patient is in control prior to, during and after the dental visit. When self hypnosis is used, studies have found that individuals:

• experience less pain

• need less pain medication

• feel more in control

• have increased levels of relaxation

• heal more rapidly from dental work

In addition, reduced anxiety and ongoing pain management with hypnosis is non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical. Once learned, self-hypnosis can be used as an effective tool in many other areas in life of your life.

Come on in and experience more relaxation, ease and confidence in yourself with relaxed dentistry through hypnodontics.

Having over 25 years of experience, Joan Courtney is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and an NLP Practitioner. She is certified by three major hypnotherapy organizations. Transformation Hypnotherapy is located at 163 White Mountain Bl., Pinetop/Lakeside, AZ. She can be reached at (928) 367-8208 or transformationhypnotherapy@frontiernet.net.