Changes in neurophysiologic parameters in a patient with dental anxiety by hypnosis during surgical treatment

Abstract

It was hypothesized that dental anxiety, which leads to neurophysiologic alterations in heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure prior, during and subsequent to dental treatment, can be influenced by medical hypnosis. We report the positive impact from non-invasive hypno-sedation during dental implant surgery on a 54-year-old female patient who experienced neurophysiologic reactions as a result of the psychosomatic process of dental anxiety (dental anxiety scale value = 13). The neurophysiologic changes during dental surgery performed with and without hypnosis were compared after the patient underwent the same surgical treatment protocol. This case report was part of a study designed to evaluate hypnosis as a non-invasive therapy for dental-anxious patients over six sessions using subjective experience and objective parameters, which included electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation of the blood, respiration rate, salivary cortisol concentration and body temperature.

A controlled trial on the effect of hypnosis on dental anxiety in tooth removal patients

“…It can be used as a stand-alone intervention or as an adjunct to treatment as usual (e.g., anesthesia). The number of studies investigating hypnosis as an adjunct intervention is very limited, but preliminary evidence suggests that hypnosis reduces dental anxiety in patients undergoing dental treatments [7,13,[19][20][21]. It is possible to induce hypnosis live or by standardised suggestions (e.g.…”

“…Pre-operative anxiety increases hours or days before the surgery [4] and is associated with higher postoperative pain [5,6]. Dental anxiety is associated with neurophysiologic alterations in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure prior, during and subsequent to dental treatments [7] and with the expectation of pain during and after treatment as well as sleep disturbances before treatment, and cardiac palpitations and transpiration right before and during treatment [8]. Patients suffering from dental anxiety require specific attention.…”

Respiratory Rate as a Physiological Response to Dental Anxiety

“…A change in the respiratory rate is one type of psychophysiological response. Eitner et al reported a positive correlation between the respiratory rate and dental anxiety, and they found that the respiratory rate in a patient with dental anxiety was increased before the dental treatment began [23].…”

Mastocytosis: oral implications of a rare disease

“…Some authors consider that patients with mastocytosis are not suited for ambulatory care, even when only small surgical procedures are necessary (68). Thus, if these patients are to undergo dental procedures, in a non-hospital environment, some aspects are to be considered (2) ( Table 6) (69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74).…”