International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis - E-Lib FK UWKS

HYPNOSIS IN DENTISTRY 289
cue to let the eyes close, to take a deep breath and to enjoy the experience of deep
relaxation while care is being given to the mouth.
POSTOPERATIVE HEMOSTASIS AND HEALING
SUGGESTIONS
Additional suggestions are offered to the patient who has undergone an oral
surgical procedure. At the conclusion of procedures involving bleeding tooth
extraction, excision of soft tissue lesion, periodontal surgery), the patient is
informed of the results of the operation and offered the following suggestions:
The procedure went very well [As it usually does. If there were problems, the patient
needs to be fully informed.] It is now time for you to start the healing process. Please
let the extraction site bleed lightly so that the ¯uid washes away any unnecessary
debris or toxins within the socket. Then stop the bleeding so that the socket is ®lled
and the clot can form. Your body knows how to do this. [Place two pieces of 2 3 2
moist gauze over the extraction site.] Just like any situation where you have a cut, ®rst
apply pressure, and you do that by biting down on the gauze, and then let the scab
form. The soft scab will ®rst form a layer of protective skin and then more and more
layers of skin will grow in the coming days. In the coming months bone will ®ll in the
area that used to have the tooth. In the mean time, your task is to treat the area gently
and let healing occur naturally. If you had a small cut on your arm, you would do
everything possible to protect the scab. So avoid things that are harmful and eat foods
that are healthy and good for you. For the next 24 hours, avoid smoking, spices and
mouthwash. Eat cool and sweet foods. The coolness reduces unnecessary swelling and
the sugar promotes healing. Ice cream or milk shakes will make you feel better and
help the healing process progress rapidly. Fortunately, the mouth is the fastest healing
part of the body because of the presence of immunoglobulins in the saliva, and the
¯uids washing the area. So treat that area gently and be pleasantly surprised how
quickly and effectively it heals. As always, if you have any questions, please call me
at the of®ce or at home. [Give patient postoperative instruction sheet and hand write
home phone number. If a prescription for narcotic analgesic is indicated, the directions
state to take medication for comfort, rather than for pain).]
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO START SMOKING?
Another area in which hypnotic strategies are utilized, but the concepts of hypnosis
are not mentioned, is in the 3-minute smoking cessation interaction. At the conclusion
of the oral examination and cancer screening, if there is an indication by the
patient that there is a desire to `quit', the following sample script is useful.
doctor: When did you have your last cigarette?
patient: On the way to the of®ce, about half an hour ago.