International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis - E-Lib FK UWKS

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International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis. Edited by G. D. Burrows, R. O. Stanley, P. B. Bloom
Copyright # 2001 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBNs: 0-471-97009-3 Hardback); 0-470-84640-2 Electronic)
Dental Anxiety Disorders,
Phobias and Hypnotizability
JACK A. GERSCHMAN
University of Melbourne, Australia
In the previous chapter mention has been made of the patients' capacity to enter
into spontaneous trance states and the dentist's ability to recognize and manipulate
this potentially bene®cial or pathological attribute.
The nature and utilization of this phenomenon will be further expanded, linking
hypnotizability with both the aetiology and management of Dental Anxiety
Disorders.
DENTAL FEARS AND PHOBIAS
Until the discovery of the anaesthetic agents nitrous oxide 1844), ether 1846) and
nerve block anaesthesia 1855), dental treatment, primarily extraction, was an
agony unsurpassed for most.
Since then the profession has successfully advanced pain control. However, in
spite of many modern developments in dental science, fear of dentistry and
avoidance of dental care cause continuing concern among dental practitioners.
Fear of dentists is commonly listed in the top ®ve commonly held fears and is
among the ten most frequent intense fears. Ther are few people who do not
experience at least some anxiety and fear associated with dental care. According to
Lautch 1971) `a fear of dental treatment is indeed so common that it can almost be
considered normal unless of such a degree to interfere with much needed dental
treatment'. It has been estimated that 89% of individuals experience pretreatment
anxiety when visiting the dentist Scott & Humphreys, 1987).
CLASSIFICATION OF DENTAL FEARS
The classi®cation of dental fears has taken two primary directions. In one direction
the patients have been regarded as having a phobia. The term `odontophobia' was
coined by Borland and is commonly referred to as dental phobia Borland, 1963).
International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis. Edited by G. D. Burrows, R. O. Stanley and P. B. Bloom
# 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd