The Efficacy of Hypnosis, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Biofeedback for the Alleviation of Anxiety, Pain and Phobias in the Dental Patient

For over a century hypnosis has been used as an effective method for the treatment of many different issues in medicine and dentistry. In the field of orofacial pain, we are often faced with issues whose etiology can often, to say the least, be profoundly puzzling. From Bruxism and Gagging to TMD and Migraine, Hypnotherapy has been time tested and scientifically proven to be an effective adjunct to traditional therapy. While not using it to get the patient to walk like a chicken and quack like a duck, we can now effectively decrease anxiety, improve communication and rapport, diminish pain and improve treatment compliance. This course will take place over 2 days. The attendees will learn the art of hypnotherapy from simple induction techniques, to deepening procedures through to suggestion methods. Each attendee will receive hands on training experiencing the state of hypnosis as well as how to help their fellow students experience it for themselves. Each student will leave this course with a very effective addition to their toolbox. As an added component, there will also be a presentation of Biofeedback, Heart Rate Variability and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Topics will include:
– Hypnosis and its application to dentistry
– Basic deepening, relaxation, visualization, and suggestions techniques
– Clinical applications – anxiety, phobias, pain management
– Communication and rapport
– Hypnosis and induction techniques
– Biofeedback, heart-rate variability to aid in reducing anxiety and promoting healing
– Clinical applications – pain management, migraine, TMD, hypno-anesthesia