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Hypnosis and dental anesthesia in children: a prospective controlled study
Adeline Huet1, Marie-Madeleine Lucas-Polomeni, Jean-Claude Robert
1UFR d’Odontologie, 2 avenue du Pr Léon Bernard, Rennes Cedex, France.
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
|August 27, 2011
Summary
Hypnosis significantly reduced anxiety and pain in children undergoing dental anesthesia. This prospective study found that children receiving hypnosis reported less fear and discomfort during dental procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Psychology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Dental anesthesia can cause significant anxiety and pain in children.
- Effective non-pharmacological methods for managing pediatric dental anxiety and pain are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of hypnosis in reducing anxiety and pain during dental anesthesia in children.
- To compare anxiety and pain levels between children receiving hypnosis and those who did not.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study with 30 children aged 5-12, randomly assigned to hypnosis (H) or no hypnosis (NH) groups.
- Anxiety assessed using the modified Yale preoperative anxiety scale (mYPAS) at multiple time points.
- Pain assessed post-anesthesia using visual analogue scale (VAS) and modified objective pain score (mOPS).
Main Results:
- The hypnosis group (H) showed significantly lower median anxiety (mYPAS) and pain (mOPS) scores compared to the no hypnosis group (NH).
- A significantly higher proportion of children in the H group experienced no or mild pain.
- Hypnosis was associated with reduced subjective and objective measures of pain and anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Hypnosis appears to be an effective intervention for mitigating anxiety and pain associated with dental anesthesia in pediatric patients.
- Findings support the integration of hypnosis as a complementary technique in pediatric dental care to improve patient experience.
- Further research could explore long-term effects and optimal hypnosis protocols for dental settings.
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