Teaching clinical hypnosis in U.S. and Canadian dental schools

This paper reports the results of a 1995 survey of the teaching of hypnosis in U.S. and Canadian dental schools. Responses were received from 50 schools (78%). The results are compared with prior surveys by Parrish (1973) and Simpson, Dedmon, Logan and Jakobsen (1980). The number of complete courses in hypnosis increased from 1973 to 1980 but has remained static since then. The number of other courses in which a one to two hour introduction to hypnosis is presented increased from 18% in 1980 to 30% in 1995. However, during approximately that same period (1982-1995) dentist membership in A.S.C.H. dropped from 14.9% to 4.4%. Some commentary on this phenomenon and needed future studies are offered.