You walk into the reception area and call your patient’s name. Right away, you see the fear in her face as she rises gingerly from her seat. She’s nervous, she tells you, and really doesn’t want to be here. Even before she reaches the exam room, you can predict the scenario: a tense body that flinches every time you reach for an instrument; a tight mouth that’s extra sensitive and leaves little room for maneuvering. There’s no doubt about it, you have a difficult procedure ahead of you.

Dental anxiety is a common patient reaction that ranges from slight to severe. There are no statistics on what percentage of patients experience dental anxiety, but most practitioners have seen their share. A general term that can include both dental fear (a reaction to a previous experience) and dental phobia (a much stronger form of fear possibly stemming from a traumatic experience), dental anxiety poses significant challenges for patients and dental hygienists alike. 

These challenges start with the physiological changes-increased blood pressure, accelerated heart rate and elevated respiration rate-that many anxious patients experience. In addition to raising concerns about your patient’s well-being, such spikes also lead to problems with administering local anesthetic. But the effects of dental anxiety often linger well after your patient finishes his or her appointment. That’s because anxious patients usually require more time and can easily put you behind schedule, leaving you to play catch-up for the rest of the day.

As a dental hygienist with 30 years of experience and a certified hypnotherapist since 1999, I’ve found an effective way to reduce dental anxiety-guided relaxation. Guided relaxation exercises are easy to employ with minimal training and require no special equipment. Best of all, they are natural, safe and-unlike most sedatives-have no side effects.

I discovered guided relaxation many years ago as I explored ways to bring more calm into my personal life. Finding myself growing tense around anxious patients, I decided to apply relaxation techniques to my professional life, too. As I incorporated these simple exercises into my practice, I immediately noticed a difference-and so did my patients. Breezing by the front desk after their procedures, formerly anxious patients commented on how relaxed they felt and requested future appointments with me. I even had some patients insist they were coming in just for the relaxation!

As an added bonus, I found that as I helped my patients release their anxiety, I grew calmer too.

Based on the principles of hypnotherapy, guided relaxation uses breathing and visualization exercises to trigger positive physiological changes in the body. Here is how it works. First, I invite my anxious patient to recline comfortably in her chair and focus on her breath. The resulting increase in oxygen levels causes brain waves to move from the faster beta state to the slower alpha state. In response, the patient’s heart rate slows, respiration decreases and muscle tension is released.

I then use calming imagery, such as a serene beach setting, to support further relaxation. For some patients, I might tailor the imagery to assist in general relaxation. When doing so, I look for signs of success in a lower respiration rate, a loosening of the mouth or a more relaxed hand grip. For other patients, I might use visualization to help address issues such as gagging, salivary output or even bleeding. At the same time, I can help the patient become open to the suggestion of a positive dental experience now and in the future.

Guided relaxation can be good for your patients in many ways. Relaxed patients will experience less discomfort and require less anesthesia in addition to feeling more at ease during their visits. But you may be pleasantly surprised at how your practice will benefit, too. By not spending extra time with anxious patients, you can stay on schedule. Procedures become less complicated. Relationships between patients and staff improve. You remain more composed during your busy day.

Guided relaxation can boost the vitality of your practice in the long-term, too. Incorporating these simple exercises allows you to broaden your scope of care- because a relaxed mind is more open to suggestions than one that is tense and worried. You’ll be more effective at helping patients adopt positive lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and managing diabetes, that will improve both oral and general health.

Finally, becoming skilled in the art of relaxation can mean an increase in referrals for your practice. As formerly anxious patients spread the word about positive experiences at your office, you might just develop a reputation as the “relaxing dental hygienist.” Building this niche will no doubt mean good things for your practice’s bottom line, but it might also re-ignite the spark that drew you to the profession of dental hygiene in the first place-the passion for helping others enjoy greater health and well-being.

Training in relaxation techniques can be as easy as finding an adult education class in your community or listening to instructional CDs. If you’re looking for more intensive training, consider a certification course in hypnotherapy or guided imagery. Whether you simply want to make your current practice run more smoothly or you’re ready to take your career to a whole new level, relaxation is a solution worth pursuing.  

Jackie Foskett, RDH, BS, is a Certified Hypnotherapist and founder of Healing Hypnotherapy who works in the Seattle area. Bringing the benefits of guided relaxation to the dental industry, she conducts “Calming Dental Anxiety” trainings for dental professionals. Jackie officially retired from the clinical practice of dental hygiene in 2006, but continues to temp on a regular basis. For more information about Jackie, visit 

Articles

You walk into the reception area and call your patient’s name. Right away, you see the fear in her face as she rises gingerly from her seat. She’s nervous, she tells you, and really doesn’t want to be here.

Calming dental anxiety

	SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, March 2011 – In response to the evolving humanitarian crisis that resulted from the recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Northern Japan, Ultradent announced plans for two initiatives to support relief efforts in Japan. Both initiatives will support AmeriCares, a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate emergency response and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs around the world.

	“Disasters of this magnitude require support on a global scale,” said Dr. Dan Fischer, President/CEO of Ultradent. “While we’re reassured that our colleagues in Japan are safe, we’re saddened by the state of destruction in the region and hope to do our part in helping relief and long term recovery efforts”.
	
	Ultradent’s relief initiatives include a voluntary program for Ultradent employees to donate funds which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the company. Details of the program have been shared with more than 1000 employees throughout Ultradent’s international network. Ultradent has also delivered hygiene aids (toothbrushes, OpalPix, etc.) for immediate support. The second initiative extends to friends and patrons of Ultradent. Facebook friends and Ultradent store visitors will be provided with the option to donate funds to an account Ultradent is preparing for AmeriCares.

 SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, March 2011 – In response to the evolving humanitarian crisis that resulted from the recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Northern Japan, Ultradent announced plans for two initiatives to support relief efforts in Japan. Both initiatives will support AmeriCares, a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate emergency response and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs around the world.

Ultradent announces initiatives to support relief efforts in Japan

	CHICAGO, IL – March 4, 2010 –Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacture of dental instruments, acknowledged the work of two Dental Hygienists by sponsoring their trip to attend the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, which convened at McCormick Place February 25-27.
	 
	Hu-Friedy conducted a contest to recognize the dedication of hygienists and to help eliminate any economic cost barrier that might prevent participation in this meeting. The winners, each of whom wrote a short essay on why they deserved to attend the Midwinter Meeting, are  among the 15,000-member base of the online community “Friends of Hu-Friedy." Approximately 100 dental hygienists submitted essays describing the benefits they expected from being selected to attend the largest annual gathering of dental professionals in the U.S.  
	 
	“Dental hygienists play such an important role in preventive oral health,” said Ron Saslow, president and Chief Executive Officer of Hu-Friedy. ”Year after year they conscientiously attend to the dental health needs of their patients and passionately pursue continuing education.  

	Hu-Friedy has the honor of providing quality handcrafted instruments to this group and is committed to doing all we can to enable access to information and education that will add value to their professional lives. In the current economic climate it is sometimes difficult to attend some of the major conferences, so we are gratified that we could sponsor these two individuals who obviously have made a difference for so many.”  
	 
	The contest winners were Lesa K, Crane, RDH, BSHS, Assistant Local Coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Program of the Northern Virginia/Germanna Community College in Locust Grove, Virginia and Debby Kurtz-Weidinger, RDH, M.ED., a dental hygienist at the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center Dental Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.
	 
	Crane said she had not been to the Chicago meeting since 1984. It was then that the native of Decatur, Illinois heard a presentation by Irene Woodall. “She inspired me to believe I could become a periotherapist. Now, I’ve come full circle. I’m an educator myself and the Midwinter Meeting has course offerings that will help us develop our program. Hu-Friedy has always promoted excellence and quality with its products. This essay contest is an example of the Company’s commitment to quality and excellence.” 

	Kurtz-Weidinger has been deeply involved in the treatment of soldiers whose injuries leave them unable to speak, or with other serious oral health issues. “They tell me I’ve made a difference in  their lives by listening, providing high-quality dental hygiene treatment and by teaching them to maintain optimal oral health. They make me proud of my work.”
	 
	 
	 
	


	Founded in Chicago in 1908, Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Company helps dental professionals perform at their best by producing dental instruments designed to function as an extension of each practitioner's particular skill. Its products, hand-crafted by highly-skilled artisans, are known for their precision, performance, longevity, reliability and quality. Hu-Friedy products are distributed in more than 75 countries, and the Company has offices in Rotterdam, Leimen, as well as
	Shanghai and Tokyo.

 CHICAGO, IL – March 4, 2010 –Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacture of dental instruments, acknowledged the work of two Dental Hygienists by sponsoring their trip to attend the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, which convened at McCormick Place February 25-27.  

modernhygienist.com-2011-03-01

Calming dental anxiety

Ultradent announces initiatives to support relief efforts in Japan

Hu-Friedy sponsors dental hygienists at CDS