Presented at the 2012 AAPM Annual Meeting « Back

Clinical Evaluation of Hypnotism-Induced Local Anesthesia in Endodontics

Negin Attaran, Medical Student, neginattaran@rocketmail.com, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi, Iran

Introduction: Despite an injection of local anesthetic material in some cases, the teeth with irreversible pulpitis do not become numb, or common local anesthetic material is contraindicated for the patient. Therefore, an alternative treatment, especially hypodontia, the use of hypnosis in dentistry, can be introduced. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 21 male and female volunteers, referring for endodontic treatment of vital teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Examination forms were completed. Patients with any other concurrent diseases were excluded. Patients satisfied with participation signed the consent forms. With the patients' companion, patients underwent hypnosis and the necessary time to reach suitable numbness was recorded. Patients were then conditioned to a key phrase. With the use of a key conditioning, hypnosis was induced more rapidly and the time to reach numbness was recorded. Numbness was checked and confirmed by an endodontic specialist unaware of the intervention. Endodontic treatment was performed at appropriate level of numbness. Results were analyzed by Mann Whitney U, Fisher's Exact and Wilcoxon Sign Rank tests. Results: Sixteen patients (76.2%) reached suitable deep numbness. The time in which hypnotism was induced in the second session of treatment (3.8 minutes) was less than the first session (23.09 minutes). There was no significant difference between male and females in giving a positive feedback to hypnotism. Conclusion: Hypnosis was successful in inducing numbness for root canal therapy of teeth in 76.2%, proving useful in patients with irreversible pulpitis in whom local anesthesia is not effective. References: 1)Benjamin J, Sadock R. Kaplan & Sadock pocket handbook of clinical psychiatry. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Williams & Wilkins. 2005: 387. 2)Scully j .National medical series for independent study psychiatry .4th ed. Philadelphia: William &Wilkins. 2001: 128. 3)Cassem N.M Massachusetts general hospital handbook of general hospital psychitry.3rd ed. st. Louis: .M osby Co .1991: 65-68 ,468. 4)Wallpatric J, Melzack R. Handbook of pain management. First ed. U.S.A: Churchilll Livingston. 2004: 524. 5)Winter N. Hypnosis in dentistry in dental vocational training .British dental j 2001;166(10):382. 6)Hermes D, Truebger D , Hakim SG, Sieg PJ. Tape recorded hypnosis in oral and maxillofacial surgery basics and first clinical experience. Craniomaxillofacial Surg J 2005;33(2):123-9. 7)Andrew SH, Welbury R. The use of hypnosis in a sedation clinic for dental extractions in children.J of Dentistry for children 1996; 63(6):418-20

Funding: None