BISHOP'S STORTFORD: Teeth removed under hypnosis

2:47pm Tuesday 27th May 2008

A PATIENT has spoken of the history-making moment when he had two teeth removed by a dentist without anaesthetic - after he was hypnotised.

Smile and Wellbeing Dental Care, in South Street, Bishop's Stortford, is claiming a first' for the area after patient Leslie Mason had two teeth and roots removed, without any pain-killing drugs.

For nervous patients, hypnotism is seen as the way forward.

Dentist Dr Bhavin Bhatt, a dentist for almost ten years, told the Citizen: "It's something that's gaining momentum. We're in a world where a lot of people are looking for alternative treatments. I think people are looking for other ways (of receiving treatment) that are drug-free, almost organic, natural ways.

"It's very exciting. We're trying to change peoples' perception of dentistry. There's a whole generation who are very nervous (about going to the dentist). If we can help them control pain and stress that means the next generation of kids should not be as scared."

Mr Mason, from Colch-ester, a self-confessed nervous patient, decided to undergo hypnosis at the hands of John Ridlington, of the Maysland Holistic Retreat. He said: "We had a couple of practice sessions and that seemed to work. Your mind goes somewhere else."

Because of his interest in mediaeval battle re-enactments, Mr Mason's mind, when under hypnosis, was focused on his hobby which has seen him play the part of a Saxon or Viking.

He said: "The whole idea is to take your mind away. You're driving your sub-conscious mind.

"It's like opening a door into your sub-conscious mind and planting a suggestion there."

Once hypnotised, Mr Mason remembers hearing the voices of those in the room, but did not experience any real sensation when Dr Bhatt was at work.

All he says he remembers was a slight "sting"-like feeling and a "twinge" during the extraction.

He added: "You lose track of time, I suppose it was 20 minutes to half-an-hour. There was no pain at all. It was a job well done."

Encouraging anyone else considering the same form of treatment to give it a go, Mr Mason said: "Give it a crack, but have a test run first because everybody is different. You have to go with an open mind."

Dr Bhatt said: "He was put under with a special type of hypnosis so he could control his level of pain.

"The beauty of this was that I was able to talk to him. Previously when you drugged someone up you didn't have a clue what they were experiencing. It wasn't a run-of-the-mill, easy kind of procedure - two teeth and a couple of roots.

"Afterwards I've never seen a happier man in my whole life - he hugged and kissed everyone!"

Hypnotherapist John Ridlington said: "To say he felt absolutely nothing would be a misnomer, he did feel the tug when the teeth came out but he had no extreme pain. He was very relaxed and peaceful throughout the treatment.

"Once he had come back he was very happy and comfortable."

He added: "It's a matter of developing a relationship of trust, then all that's required is to introduce the concept that they have a control room in their head which includes a control for sensation, and make them aware that they can control sensation."

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